OregonAggie said:
I agree with all of that although I'm curious about Fabinho. There's some talk out there that when Klopp says he isn't integrated enough...he actually means he just simply isn't ready for the premier league and not that he can't actually get the system down. I'm hoping he just hasn't acclimated to the Liverpool system yet because that's a helluva price tag for a bust.
Sturridge coming off the bench and having spot starts for Firmino is going to pay dividends this year. I've seen interviews where his mood seems great and he just wants to contribute/compete all year with the club. That's great news for us. Sturridge/Firmino aren't like for like but he's definitely got talent and goal scoring ability.
Even if Fabinho isn't a star this year, you can't label it a bust. He is under contract till 2023 and is only 24 years old.
I think Fabinho will have time to slowly integrate into the squad. Hendo is the guaranteed starting holding midfield in epl matches for at least the next year. Also, Milner and Wijnaldum can play that position at a high level, so I don't expect him to have to play a crucial role in a big match this upcoming year.
Klopp might use Fabinho as his jack-of-all-trades fill-in this upcoming year. A sprinkling of games at CB, RB, CDM as both a starter or sub depending on the game or injuries. Assuming everyone is healthy, I expect him to be in the same spot in the pecking order as Emre Can was last year.