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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Dan Marsh

Fabinho optical illusion made fans think he'd done something disgusting to Eden Hazard

Liverpool have had a season to forget in the Premier League - and Fabinho has certainly come in for his fair share of criticism this term.

The Brazilian midfielder has established himself as one of the top-flight's finest central midfielders since swapping Monaco for Merseyside back in 2018, but the 29-year-old has struggled to live up to his own high standards in Liverpool's faltering engine room this year.

Fabinho has made an impression on plenty of rivals with his no-nonsense approach in the middle of the park. But a bizarre optical illusion involving him and former Chelsea winger Eden Hazard left fans fuming for all the wrong reasons back in 2019 following an incident which ranks as one of the most bizarre moments in recent Premier League history.

In the opening stages of the match - which the Reds went on to win 2-0 - it seemed as though Fabinho was approaching Hazard, who had been left on the turf following a robust tackle.

And fans were left raging on social media after after Fabinho was spotted clearing his nose on camera, seemingly after walking towards Hazard. However, it soon became clear that the incident was nothing more than an illusion due to the awkward angle of the camera shots involved.

Eventually the confusion was cleared up on social media, with some fans pointing out that the angles were just a tad confusing, but the moment still ranks as one of the most odd top-flight memories in recent memory.

Join the debate! Who would you like to see Liverpool target in the summer transfer window? Let us know here.

Fans were left raging at Fabinho thanks to an awkward camera angle back in 2019 (Twitter)

Fortunately for Fabinho, despite his lacklustre performances this term, he is likely to be given the benefit of the doubt and handed a role in the club's new look midfield next year if, as expected, Jurgen Klopp is given the funds to reshape his squad in the summer transfer window.

Already, a host of high-profile names have been linked with a move to Anfield, including England star Jude Bellingham. And with other players such as Matheus Nunes and Alexis MacAllister also being touted to join Klopp's side, there's likely to be casualties, too.

In reality, the Liverpool midfielder was some distance away from Hazard (Twitter)

Juventus loanee Arthur Melo is highly unlikely to still be a Liverpool player once his season-long deal comes to an end in May, whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are both expected to move on to pastures new when their contracts expire at the end of the campaign.

The Reds still have plenty to play for before Klopp can begin his rebuilding work in the transfer window, though. They are currently eighth in the league and have to make up a 10-point deficit if they are to qualify for next season's Champions League ahead of their showdown with Arsenal on Sunday.

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