Premier League 2019/20: Liverpool's ideal starting XI

Fabinho

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final

Liverpool had lacked a pedigreed central midfielder since Javier Mascherano departed to Barcelona in 2010.

Eight years after the Argentinian's departure, Liverpool finally found a replacement in the summer of 2018.

Fabinho was the leading candidate on a three-man shortlist of defensive midfielders and Klopp wasted no time in bringing the Brazilian to Anfield.

Although the 25-year-old is an indispensable member of the first-team currently, his journey to establish himself as the man for the job was anything but plain-sailing.

The former Monaco man struggled to come to terms with the pace of football in England and faced a lengthy spell on the sidelines to equip himself for the task in hand.

Once he was re-introduced to the team, the Brazilian slotted in seamlessly and went on to become a mainstay in the center of the park.

Fabinho was key player in Liverpool's Champions League triumph and the £40 million transfer fee looks more like a bargain with every passing day.

Having established himself as a pivotal figure in this Liverpool team, Klopp will be counting on his midfield destroyer to have another strong campaign as the Reds look to build on their second-placed finish.