Jurgen Klopp has admitted he is considering restoring Fabinho to midfield following the Brazilian’s return to training.
Having lost Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip to serious injuries, the 27-year-old has spent most of the season playing as an emergency centre-back before being sidelined in recent weeks.
Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips started the Reds’ victory over Sheffield United at the heart of defence on Sunday and could retain their places if Fabinho is not deemed fit enough to start against Chelsea on Thursday night.
And while Klopp admitted he had already decided who would play centre-back against Thomas Tuchel’s side, he revealed that he would like to utilise Fabinho in his preferred midfield position for some matches between now and the end of the season.
“Both (roles) are possible. This is true. It’s good, it gives us options in different moments,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
“If we can find a way to bring Fab back in midfield, in some games that will be quite helpful.
“The most consistent player this season is Gini Wijnaldum. Long may it continue. He plays the six, but he plays pretty much all these positions.
“But with Fab in the six, in some games would be absolutely helpful so we will see.”
He continued: “Both roles are really intense. In centre-half on the six. In the past, we had to players back almost immediately because another player had left the pitch injured the game before.
“This time we don’t have to do that, the first time maybe. But there are still a lot of games to come. We will see.
“If Fab is close enough to start or only ready for the bench and then which position. These decisions are still to be made.
“Even if I had made them already, I wouldn’t tell you what the decision is. Let’s see.”
While Klopp refused to confirm whether he would persist with Phillips and Kabak in the long-term following Fabinho’s return, he did praise the duo for their performance against the Blades in difficult circumstances.
“Stability would be great if we could do that,” he said. “Both did really well. I heard people were quite critical of both of them but that is picky to be honest.
“Stability would be great but we’ve changed that often, maybe we make a habit of it.
“I know, but I will not say here what we will do.”
