Liverpool's gradual shift to a 4-2-3-1 formation has been largely credited with Jurgen Klopp's need to accommodate Xherdan Shaqiri after his flying start at Anfield.
The Switzerland international has scored six times in 22 games, including a double against Manchester United in the 3-1 win in December, and has blended excellently with the seemingly impenetrable front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.
Yet there is another new player to have thrived in that formation in Fabinho, whose emergence over the last two months especially has thrown a blanket over the doubters questioning his £44m move from Monaco after an inauspicious start.
The 25-year-old midfielder did not make his Liverpool debut until September 18 and even then it was as an 89th-minute replacement for Sadio Mane in the 3-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield.
His first Premier League appearance was over a month later, starting Liverpool's 1-0 win at Huddersfield. Jurgen Klopp was adamant Fabinho needed time to adjust to his demands but it was not a huge leap of faith to wonder how impressed the Liverpool boss really was by his summer signing.
A month after Huddersfield, Klopp even had to shoot down claims Fabinho could leave in January.
'That would be completely crazy,' Klopp quipped. 'He doesn't want to, it's just the crazy world out there where if a player doesn't play in the last five games, you open kind of a transfer market. We are not involved in that.'
Now, in the mid-season window, Fabinho has never looked more secure in a Liverpool shirt.
He was man-of-the-match in Liverpool's 1-0 win over Everton and was compared to Steven Gerrard after his assist for Sadio Mane's goal against United but the yardstick was against Manchester City on January 3, an enthralling clash between the two teams battling it out for the Premier League title.
Klopp benched the Brazil midfielder and went with his tried and trusted midfield trio of James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum.
His selection was not the reason Liverpool lost 2-1 - nor was the length of the grass - but they looked much likelier to win when Fabinho replaced Milner after 57 minutes.
His presence in a defined holding role gave Liverpool more structure and clout in the heart of the pitch and more impetus further ahead. They equalised seven minutes later, although parity lasted only eight.
His introduction also signalled his growing comfort in a midfield three, although he certainly appears strongest in a two alongside captain Jordan Henderson. It is a good problem for Klopp to have once his squad is fully fit; Wijnaldum has also excelled throughout the season while Milner appears evergreen.
And yet from that game on, Fabinho has shown another dimension to his value to Liverpool's squad.
With most Liverpool's central defence sidelined through injury in Dejan Lovren, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, Fabinho filled in well in a back four against Wolves and Brighton.
With those three still returning to fitness and the recent injury to right back Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho might not be back in the middle of the pitch just yet.
But like Shaqiri, his recent performances appear to have done enough to make Klopp consider reforming a highly dependable trio as he looks to lead Liverpool to their first ever Premier League title.
Arsiliverpool
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acmcdade
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the hell is this formation? this ain’t fifa mate fabs won’t play left back and origi won’t play cm
Zembcemnrt
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Reoeksu
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Yezacklprt
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No one as seen Anything yet.. He still got more to show us thank you.
Abdel1992
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I always considered the Fabinho transfer news as a farce.
Robinhan
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Was never leaving or unhappy in the first place
Real football heads knew it was only a matter of time for him to show his quality, he made Bakayoko look like a world class player at Monaco, that tells you how good he is.
welcome13
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Fabinho has already stated that PSG had this old news released just before the game against Liverpool in the CL and that he had no intentions of moving to PSG, this is awful and outdated poor journalism at it's very worst, perhaps the compiler has alterior motives for printing it, or just to ensure the cheque's keep coming in?
overthing
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Linked with what ? A ha ha ha ha ha ha .
offlinea
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Jack full of crack ?
doltish
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No Liverpool supporter had any doubts about Fabinho, or his place within the team, the lads class.
yusuon
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Was never leaving or unhappy in the first place
just2
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Journalism is not for you jack, no Liverpool fan or no real football fan thought he was going.
moonlights
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Quality player, caught out at first by the pace of the prem but once it sunk in he didnt have 30 seconds with the ball like he did in France he hasnt looked back, another quality signing under Klopp. Just need Keita to show more consistency now.
Frederice
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And to think some people laughed because he was benched for the start of the season. What a signing he looks
quaooma
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Was he really linked to a move away?! Credit the source, if you say so... big Fabinho is here to stay and dominate.
ookiss
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In KLOPP we trust
offlinea
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He was never linked to anyone.... Klopp was leaving him out by choice and look how it worked...
capitalise
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Fabinho rubbished the PSG rumours, claiming it was strategic. He said the same sort of rumours appeared when PSG was about to play Monaco. Aside from that, Fabinho certainly plays better in a midfield two, shielding the back four and dictating play from deeper.
continental
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Nobody ever thought he would go in January, Klopp takes time bedding in players he won't rush them in based on a price tag
Torreses
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The same link psg out out before the cup final with monaco, they are known to try and unsettle teams before they play
hotman
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Surely better than Hendo!!
thisisanonymous
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fabinho loves Liverpool I've seen his reaction in every game he has passion for the club
liverpoli
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Yes, he was linked to PSG, in fact, what am I saying, PSG is linked with everyone