The Fabio Carvalho Conundrum: What Do Liverpool Do?
When Liverpool snapped up Fabio Carvalho from Fulham in 2022/2023, it was viewed as a major coup. They had picked up one of the best-performing players in the Championship, and he was only 19 years old. He scored his first goal for the club in a 9-0 victory over Bournemouth a few weeks into the season. Four days later, he scored the game-winning goal against Newcastle in the 98th minute.
Days after that, he received a start against bitter rivals Everton at Goodison Park. It seemed the signing was going to be a major success. But as quickly as his Anfield career started, it dwindled as fast. For the rest of 2022, he only featured five times in the Premier League, totalling 184 minutes. Meanwhile, in 2023, he only played for a total of eight.
It seemed that the Portuguese-born talent was not quite the right fit for then-manager Jürgen Klopp. The next season proved it, as Carvalho was sent out on loan. While his RB Leipzig switch didn’t quite go to plan, when he was recalled and ultimately loaned back out to Hull City, life was rejuvenated for the player. In 20 Championship appearances, he scored nine goals and assisted a further two.
Arne Slot has now taken up the helm as Anfield boss, and Carvalho has a chance to get back into the mix at Liverpool. But the truth is, where does he fit?
Fabio Carvalho: Is There Room for Him?
You would be a fool to think Fabio Carvalho is not a talented player. But, where does he fit at Liverpool?
The Portuguese midfielder or attacker (depending on who you ask) has always stated his best position is the No.10 role. Currently at the club, the likes of Harvey Elliott, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, you would think, are all ahead of him in the pecking order. Ask yourself, would you really deploy Carvalho ahead of any of them?
“I prefer playing as a 10. Playing out wide, I can do a job there but it’s not my natural position.”
– Fabio Carvalho via Liverpool Echo
When it comes to the head coach, Carvalho has said that Arne Slot sees him as a left-winger. But if this is the case, then the same problem rings through. Where does he fit?
Despite links to Anthony Gordon, the left-wing is probably the most in-depth position currently at the club. Liverpool fans were enamoured with Cody Gakpo’s performance out on the left flank for the Netherlands during EURO 2024. Luis Diaz has been the nailed-on left-sided attacker for the last couple of seasons. Diogo Jota, when not playing central, is usually deployed there. And of course, Darwin Núñez has and can also play out left.
Is there any space for a player like Carvalho to get game time? On first glance, he’s the fourth choice for both of these positions, and it is not like squad depth is an issue here.
Game Time Is Key
David Ornstein, who is always trustworthy, recently reported that Southampton had a £15 million bid for Carvalho rejected. Additionally, club-affiliated journalists had previously stated that the 21-year-old wouldn’t be going out on another loan.
On top of this, the player himself has publicly said that his main goal is to stay and fight for his place. But like any young football player, all he wants is game time. And you can’t really blame him.
There is no doubt that Fabio Carvalho would be a star for most of the Premier League sides. His performances across the pre-season even have Liverpool fans excited. His goal against Arsenal was Slot-ball personified. Harvey Elliott made a daring dink over the defence after a couple of well-worked passes, and the No. 28 then fired into the goal following a strong run in behind. Following that, a deft finish against Manchester United in a 3-0 win meant he ended the US tour on a high.
You can only expect that once the full squad has been reunited, talks with the player and the head coach will follow. We will likely know the future of the 21-year-old sooner rather than later.
Liverpool would likely seek a much higher price than Southampton’s £15 million offer, possibly in the region of £25 million. If he ultimately stays, the Reds will have a highly talented player on their squad who might force his way into the lineup.
But the key word is MIGHT. And if game time is what the player wants, then the best option for both would be to part ways.
If this is the path that is taken, then Richard Hughes, make sure to include a buy-back clause. Just in case.
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