Liverpool legend Phil Thompson believes that Arne Slot has found a player reminiscent of Philippe Coutinho in Fabio Carvalho.
This summer, the Dutchman took over from Jurgen Klopp and has had a successful first pre-season with Liverpool, securing wins against Real Betis, Arsenal, and Manchester United during their US tour. Notably, Slot achieved these victories even without several key players, including Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Darwin Nunez, who were resting after summer international tournaments.
In their absence, Slot gave opportunities to several young players, with Fabio Carvalho standing out. Carvalho joined Liverpool from Fulham in 2022 but has only made 21 senior appearances, scoring three goals. He spent more time on loan, first at RB Leipzig and then at Hull City, where he impressed with nine goals and two assists in the latter half of last season.
Now 21, Carvalho can play as an attacking midfielder or on the wings. He aims to secure a spot in Liverpool’s squad under Slot this season. His pre-season performances suggest he’s on the right track, having scored against both Arsenal and Manchester United, amassing 203 minutes of playtime.
Thompson took notice of Carvalho’s form and drew a comparison to former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho. “Carvalho scored in the last two games, against Arsenal and Manchester United,” Thompson told talkSPORT. “He’s a very clever footballer, likes to get between the lines. Though he’s a bit lightweight, he’s very much like Coutinho and he can deliver.”
Liverpool’s final pre-season friendly is against Sevilla at Anfield on Sunday. They will kick off their 2024/25 Premier League campaign away to newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
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