Fabio Carvalho: Ready for Liverpool Action Once Again

Fans were more than excited when Liverpool signed Fabio Carvalho from Fulham for £7.5million in the summer of 2022. However, despite a promising start on Merseyside, his star slowly faded as he fell down the ranks in Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

The youngster has been every vocal lately on his excitement to return to Liverpool in the summer recently, suggesting that he could be ready for another crack at first-team football at Anfield. So, today we’re going to be taking a look at what has changed for the 21-year-old since his departure in the summer.

Carvalho’s Journey so Far…

As mentioned above, Carvalho actually made quite an exciting start to his Liverpool career. The Portuguese forward scored twice within his first month at the club, one in the 9-0 victory over Bournemouth and a 98th minute winner in a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at Anfield. Despite his young age, he was trusted to start in midfield at Goodison Park in the Merseyside Derby against Everton due to his impressive performances.

His third goal came in the 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City in December 2022. Carvalho would only make one more appearance for the club after that game, before being sent out on loan to gain first-team experience.

Loan Spells: Leipzig to Hull City

Carvalho originally secured a very exciting loan move to RB Leipzig, but as mentioned above, he really struggled to make an impact. The 21-year-old made nine Bundesliga appearances, but only 11% of the available minutes from those games and starting just 6% of those.

Due to the lack of minutes, the youngster was recalled by Liverpool and made to find another club for the remainder of the 2023/24 season. This was where Carvalho made perhaps his most mature decision of his career, choosing to go back down to the EFL Championship with Hull City.

Carvalho has started every game for the Tigers since moving in January – scoring four goals in eleven appearances in the EFL Championship. His impressive run of form under Liam Rosenior has seemingly gave the youngster a huge boost of confidence and helped him recognise his talent once more. I’ve had the chance to see Carvalho in person since his move to Hull City and he looked much sharper, stronger and mature in his style of play.

Carvalho’s Road Ahead

So, as it stands, Carvalho will return to Liverpool for the 2024/25 season, following the departure of Jurgen Klopp. It was obvious that the two didn’t always say eye-to-eye, but with a new head coach set to arrive, it could be a brilliant opportunity for Carvalho.

Pre-season will be crucial for the youngster to showcase his talent to the Liverpool supporters once again and stake his claim for a place in next season’s squad. However, Liverpool’s choice of manager could make a huge impact on his future.

For example, an appointment of Xabi Alonso would provide him with a huge opportunity, due to the tactical system adopted by the Spaniard. A major issue for Carvalho at Liverpool was the lack of identity for his best position. In my opinion, it was obvious that Carvalho was naturally a number ten, but Liverpool never played with one.

However, Alonso has always operated with two number tens, which would potentially create a valuable spot for Carvalho in next season’s squad. There’s no doubt about Carvalho’s high potential, but it’s definitely time for him to show the maturity and dedication to break into the first-team plans at Anfield.