Fabio Carvalho has admitted he would have liked to have played a more prominent role in Liverpool's hunt for Champions League football of late - but insists his first season on Merseyside has highlighted the importance of remaining patient.
The 20-year-old made the move to Anfield from Fulham during the summer of 2022, just months after the Reds had failed with a deadline January swoop for the then Championship starlet. However, since making his debut as a late substitute during August's 2-2 draw at his former club Fulham, Carvalho has played just 324 minutes in the Premier League.
And since Liverpool's return to action after the mid-season World Cup in November and December, the forward has made Jurgen Klopp's starting XI on just two occasions; firstly in the League Cup defeat to Manchester City in December before being handed a starting berth at Molineux in the FA Cup replay back in January.
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However, upon discussing his first season at Anfield, Carvalho recognised that it has been an "interesting" campaign and believes there are lessons to be taken from a prolonged adaptation period.
"Patience," said Carvalho, when asked by HypeBeast what lessons he has learned while competing for a place in the Reds' first team. "And the importance of taking your chances. At a club like Liverpool, you need to be ready to step up and be counted on when you’re selected.
"It’s been an interesting season, but I’ve learned a lot from it. I’d obviously have liked to get some more minutes at the club – but I think I’ve gained a lot of valuable lessons to help me improve in the future.
"I want to get more minutes under my belt and level up ahead of the new season. We’ve got a final run of games to show what we can do as a team and what I can do as a player!"
As it stands, Liverpool have six games of the Premier League season remaining and are faced with the prospect of missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time in seven years. But despite the possible setback, Carvalho is adamant the future at Anfield remains bright with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and himself all under the age of 25.
"Definitely [the future is bright], just look at the likes of Harvey, Curtis, Trent is still so young too… then the likes of Stefan breaking through this season," added the forward. "We’re confident [that] we can get back to our best and start dominating again. I know it’s not been the easiest time to be a Liverpool fan, but I’m positive better days are ahead next season."
Asked by HypeBeast about the 'big dressers' in the Liverpool squad, Carvalho revealed: "Curtis does a lot, and Harvey likes to flex too…we’ve got a little group chat set up discussing all sorts of things, we send a lot of music too. Curtis definitely likes to flex a bit every now and again. I’m in a group chat with Harvey and him – those two have also been great in helping me settle into the city and life at the club."
Speaking in his press conference ahead of Liverpool's victory over Nottingham Forest last week, Klopp hailed the attitude and application of both Carvalho and Elliott and revealed the pair have been training "exceptionally" despite their limited involvement of late in the Reds' first-team."
"He's training exceptionally, Fabio Carvalho is training exceptionally," the Liverpool boss told reporters last Friday at the AXA Training Centre. "That's the hardest part, we haven't had it for the whole season, now we have it and we leave five players at home, all of a sudden are no longer in your squad. Crazy.
"Harvey is very, very close to starting again and Fabio, for the situation in which he is now, training on a super level and for not being involved - how he deals with it - I have to say that's a role model, not that he's happy with the situation but he never gives up.
"It's unbelievable, I didn't think it was his best skill when he arrived here because he is super, super talented. The character he shows here is exceptional."
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