Harry Diamond
Liverpool are sweating over the fitness of Fabinho after the midfielder was substituted early on in their 1-1 Champions League draw with Napoli with an ankle problem.
The Brazil international was seen in visible pain after colliding with teammate Dejan Lovren, before being replaced by Georginio Wijnaldum as Liverpool were held by the Italian visitors at Anfield.
Fabinho has starred during Liverpool’s impressive start to the new season, playing in all but one fixture so far as the club have opened up an eight-point advantage at the top of the Premier League.
The extent of the injury is yet to be revealed, though the 26-year-old was pictured wearing a protective boot as he left Anfield and league leaders will be hoping that the former Monaco midfielder is not sidelined for an extended period as the club prepares for a hectic festive fixture schedule.
Fabinho is suspended for this weekend’s Premier League meeting with Brighton at Anfield, though Jurgen Klopp will hope to have his services for next Wednesday’s Merseyside derby which will be the first of nine fixtures to be played in December.
Liverpool will play across four different competitions throughout the final month of the year, including travelling to Qatar for the Club World Cup, and Klopp admits Fabinho’s absence could be ‘massive’ for his side.
“The biggest thing is the Fabinho injury, that’s massive,” Klopp told BT Sport post-match.
“It’s early and we all hope it’s not too serious but it’s pretty painful and in an area you don’t want to have pain, around the ankle.”
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Liverpool’s draw with Napoli saw them miss the chance to secure qualification for the knock-out stages of the Champions League, though they remain at the top of a tight Group E after Dejan Lovren’s header cancelled out Dries Mertens’ opener for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
The holders will now travel to Red Bull Salzburg in a tricky final fixture of the group stage, needing to avoid defeat to ensure their progress to the last-16.
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