MX23RW : Monday, December 30 23:10:23| >> :60:1147:1147:

Fabinho: 'Second Liverpool title would be more special'

The Brazilian midfielder turned defender is set to make his 100th for the club against West Brom on Sunday.

Liverpool star Fabinho admits a second Premier League title would be more special than the first as it would put Jurgen Klopp's side "further in to football history".

The Reds ended a 30-year wait to be crowned champions of England in July with a whopping 18-point advantage over Manchester City.

Liverpool have made light of injury problems this season to hold a four-point lead over Christmas in the chase for successive titles.

Liverpool v Ajax – UEFA Champions League – Group D – Anfield
Fabinho, left, has impressed in his new central defensive role for Liverpool (Peter Byrne/PA)

"This team will be remembered for how well we play, the quality of our football and for winning the title," Fabinho said in an interview with the Daily Mail.

"But to fight for the second one would put us further in to football history. It would put us up there with teams in the Premier League that have won back to back titles. Teams like Manchester City.

"It would put us on the higher level and put us with the best teams in the history of the league.

"Taking into account everything that has happened this year, the difficulties of no fans in the stadiums and the busy run of fixtures and injuries we have had, it all adds to making the second title more special than the first one if we could do it.

"It would show that we have this constant desire at the club to be winners."

Long-term injuries to Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez has forced the Brazilian midfielder to drop deeper into central defence.

Yet the 27-year-old has hardly put a foot wrong since Liverpool's last domestic defeat, the 7-2 horror show away to Aston Villa at the start of October.

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool – Premier League – Wembley Stadium
Liverpool have lost central defenders Virgil Van Dijk, left, and Joe Gomez to long-term injuries this season (Adam Davy/PA)

Fabinho said that plans for him to play at the back had been in operation almost from the day he arrived at Liverpool in July 2018.

"Back then the coach saw the need for someone to be available so I started working on that position, getting used to it, working with potential partners," said Fabinho, who is set to make his 100th Liverpool appearance against West Brom on Sunday.

"We had three centre-backs at the time so it was all just a test for me, just to be prepared. The coach had identified that there could be a need further down the line.

"So when I came in I felt good and comfortable and over time it's got easier.

"When Virgil got injured I expected to come in as centre-back and even the other players were joking. They were saying: 'Fabinho the defender is back, he is here'.

"Yes I was nervous at first but I think I have grown in to it."

ID:428002: cacheID:428002:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7808:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta looks deflated on December 19, 2020
Read Next:
Saturday's Premier League predictions including Arsenal vs. Chelsea
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
3Arsenal18106235161936
4Chelsea19105438231535
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1995532211132
6Manchester CityMan City199463226631
7Bournemouth198652923630
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa198562831-329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford187383232024
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
20Southampton1913151239-276


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!