On The Ball | Liverpool grumbling over Virgil van Dijk’s loss leaves them vulnerable

There has been too much doom and gloom at Anfield over Virgil van Dijk. The injury to Liverpool’s stand-out presence over the past two years is a severe blow but good sides survive the loss of even their best players. Great teams rise to the challenge.

Fabinho, who will now be deployed in the back four, is crucial to Liverpool’s prospects. The Brazilian is used to performing a role where he has to curb his natural instincts. Because of the balance of the team, Jurgen Klopp’s midfielders have had to restrain their attacking inclinations. In the past two years it was more important for the central trio to provide a platform for the wing backs to get forward than express themselves. In different tactical set-ups, Fabinho’s creativity could come to the fore more often but the former Monaco star has been happy to put aside personal glory for the good of the team.

One of the reasons that Liverpool were attracted to Fabinho is his versatility. Being able to play in a range of positions is as much a mindset as a skill set. In the Champions League group match away to Ajax this week, the auxiliary centre back was the side’s best player. Beside him, Joe Gomez was tentative; behind him, Adrian was twitchy, transmitting nervousness to the outfield players. Yet Fabinho was a calming influence, making vital interceptions and spotting potential danger before it developed.

The situation is not ideal for either player or team. No one in the squad comes anywhere close to matching Van Dijk’s power in the air. Fabinho was shrugged off too easily by Michael Keane for Everton’s first equaliser in the derby at Goodison last week. Aerial balls will present a problem over the coming weeks. Sheffield United will put the defence under examination with crosses tomorrow night at Anfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson may have to pay a little more attention to the defensive side of their game to stop high balls into the box from out wide. There will need to be a measure of adjustment and Fabinho is equipped to adapt better than most, especially in a division where scatterbrained defending is not unusual.

It is understandable that Liverpool are angry about the Jordan Pickford challenge that left Van Dijk needing an operation but the continuing controversy has not done the club any favours. It highlights the importance of the centre back to the team and hands psychological advantage to rivals. The next time a Liverpool player is involved in an incident that causes serious injury to an opponent there will be a firestorm of criticism and accusations of hypocrisy directed towards Anfield. Football is a physical game and there will inevitably be injuries.