Liverpool midfielder Fabinho has revealed that Virgil Van Dijk helped him settle into the centre-back role against Brighton in the Reds' last league game.

Jurgen Klopp decided to use Fabinho at the back as Liverpool did not have any other options following Dejan Lovren’s hamstring injury against Wolves in the third round of the FA Cup.




Joe Gomez is still recovering from his injury, while Joel Matip made the bench, but was not match fit to start against the Seagulls and that meant Fabinho was drafted in at centre-back.

Fabinho did play at right-back while at Monaco, and has admitted that Van Dijk made things easier for him with his communication and guidance on the pitch.
 


“Playing alongside Van Dijk helped, he’s really vocal, he guided us. He helped me a lot”, Fabinho told Liverpool’s official website.

“I had good communication with Trent [Alexander-Arnold] and also with Hendo [Henderson]; they were the players closest to me on the pitch.
 

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“In general, I think it was a good game. In this position, which I haven’t played in a lot, I think I adapted well.

“There are some aspects, such as positioning, that I need to improve on.

“If I were to play in this position more, I’d improve on these things, but that’s natural.”

Fabinho might continue in the centre-back role against Crystal Palace on Saturday, depending on Matip’s fitness.

The Brazilian has featured in 13 games for Liverpool in the Premier League and has become a key cog in recent months after a slow start to his Liverpool career.