Fabinho urges Liverpool to rethink the transfer as Mane channels his fury

Fabinho asks to rethink the transfer

Soccer fans can be a greedy bunch.

After receiving two important signings in just 24 hours with the arrivals of Thiago Alcántara and Diogo Jota, the Liverpool fans spent part of Sunday afternoon demanding another.

To be fair, his call for a central defender is nothing new, as the Reds didn’t have a fourth senior option since Dejan Lovren’s departure earlier in the transfer window.

And that deficiency was revealed when both Joe Gomez and Joel Matip were ruled out for this Stamford Bridge clash.

Fabinho returned to the heart of the defense, as he has on a handful of previous occasions, most recently during the second half of Community Shield’s loss to Arsenal last month.

It is not ideal. However, the Brazilian’s performance indicated why Klopp, at least this year, might well think twice before diving into the market for additional reinforcements.

Fabinho was magnificent. Faced with speedy former Liverpool goalkeeper Timo Werner, the chances of failure were obvious.

Werner may have passed him on their first brief trade, but it was one of the few times the Reds player came in second. When Chelsea dropped to 10, Fabinho was even able to afford to get into midfield at times. It was that comfortable.

Among his key attributes in role number six is ​​the ability to spot danger with good standing, yet rarely disturbed.

They are all perfect for a central. And having passed this exam in such impressive fashion, Fabinho could save Klopp a few pounds in the coming weeks.

Mane channels his smoke

Sadio Mane was absolutely furious.

Roberto Firmino had been slow to anticipate a ball from the Senegalese into the area, and a promising opening was neglected.

“Cop!” Mane yelled, bouncing in frustration, when the ball finally reached Kepa’s feet.

But instead of simmering, the Liverpool forward channeled his annoyance in the right way, chasing after the Chelsea goalkeeper, blocking his punt attempt and then spinning to score.

Fingers will be pointing correctly at the hapless Kepa, but Mane deserves great credit for forcing the problem.

It was the same again shortly before half-time, the striker running towards Jordan Henderson’s magnificent pass and provoking the rugby tackle from Andreas Christensen that emphatically turned the game in favor of the visitors.

Mane makes things happen, whether with skill, power, or sheer force of will.

And it was totally fitting that he was available to go home for the first match early in the second half after a great job from Mohamed Salah and Firmino.

Having seen Salah dominate the headlines last weekend, only a rare Kepa save at the end prevented Mane from claiming the hat-trick his performance deserved.

The battle to be Liverpool’s top scorer has begun once again. And, as always, it is Klopp’s side that will prove to be the ultimate winner.

Reds send a reminder of the hanger

Jurgen Klopp said it himself afterwards.

“I saw us today, we were playing soccer today and I was completely happy with that,” said the Reds coach.

After the ridiculous roller coaster of opening day victory over Leeds United, this looked more like Liverpool who jumped to the Premier League title this season.

Tenacious, tactically cunning and fully committed, even during the first half, few could doubt that the Reds were superior. They seemed like the champions they are.

Confidence will be pulled from a clean sheet after a leaky time at the rear, secured in the fourth quarter by Alisson Becker who beat Jorginho to make the first penalty stop of his career with the Reds.

Chelsea, in mitigation, had missing players and is still lying in their summer transfer series.

But that’s exactly why Liverpool needed to attack, racking up points as their main rivals prepare for a challenge.

Hardly a deal breaker this early in the season. Instead, this was a reminder of what it will be like to knock the Reds out of position.

Klopp’s men are now really up and running.