Football
Glenn Price and Eduardo Fernandez-Abascal 5y

Liverpool need to make changes to boost title hopes - Fabinho

LONDON -- Fabinho has told ESPN that Liverpool need to find "solutions" to overcoming deep-defending teams following their recent dip in form.

Liverpool's push for the Premier League title has been slowed down by consecutive draws, with reigning champions Manchester City now only three points behind.

West Ham United and Leicester City have both frustrated Jurgen Klopp's side within the space of week, and Fabinho said adjustments need to be made.

"We have confidence," the Brazil international said. "We enjoyed a brilliant December, which was almost perfect, but now we have had this dip.

"It is difficult to explain why this has happened. I believe that now teams who play against us sit very deep. We need to do things a little differently and maybe we aren't doing this -- we are unable to find the spaces.

"Often, we want to go through the middle and it is difficult against physically strong and defensive teams. We need to find solutions and in these past few games we haven't."

City can return to the top of the table if they beat Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday night. However, Liverpool will have a game in hand on Pep Guardiola's team and host Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday.

"We want to play better every day and unfortunately it is not happening," Fabinho said. "We know our quality and we know that we can give more.

"If we do it, with our quality, we will continue at the top. But I'm talking and talking is always a little easier, so we have to try to put it into practice. Personally, I am not worried. But we know that in the next game we have to give much more.

"Beating Bournemouth is important to continue with a three-point gap at the top of the table. Now we only look at the next game and that is against Bournemouth.

"Then there will be a run of difficult games, but we will get some players back from injury and the manager will have more options to choose for those games."

Meanwhile, James Milner has said Liverpool should enjoy topping the table, instead of perceiving it as a burden.

Milner, 33, won two league winner's medals during his time at Man City and is aware of the fluid nature of title races.

"If someone said we'd be three points clear at this stage of the season you'd have taken it," he told reporters.

"There were people saying at the start of the season that Man City are the best team the Premier League has ever seen and stuff like that, so to be just close to them is good for us.

"We just want to concentrate on our games. Playing for relegation and livelihoods and people's jobs, that's pressure. Being at the top of the table, we should be enjoying it.

"I've been fortunate enough to win titles, I've been unfortunate enough to get relegated as well. I've experienced it, and these are the times you should be enjoying.

"There's a long way to go, a lot can happen, and it wouldn't surprise me if the league lead changes hands a couple of times before the end of the season."

^ Back to Top ^