Fabio Carvalho needs football – so what is his future at Leipzig and Liverpool?

By Gregg Evans

Everybody’s heard the line about a striker needing the ball to bounce off his backside to help end a goalscoring drought.

Well, for Fabio Carvalho, the almost-forgotten Liverpoolforward on loan at RB Leipzig, that part of his anatomy prevented his fortunes from changing in the Champions Leaguethis week.

Carvalho, who hasn’t scored or assisted a goal in any competition in 12 appearances for Leipzigthis season, thought he had kickstarted his career in Germany with a late strike against Manchester Cityon Tuesday.

The cool finish that appeared to put the visitors 3-2 up in the 76th minute at the Etihad Stadium was like a throwback to 2022, when times for the Fulhamacademy graduate were much brighter. But just like his season overall, which has yielded just two starts, both in September, it wasn’t to be.

An offside flag was confirmed by the VAR as footage revealed a touch off Carvalho’s rear in the build-up.

It summed up the 21-year-old’s year, as frustration at lack of game time at Anfield has seeped into his stint in the Bundesliga. Different country, same problem.

The curious case of Carvalho comes into sharp focus this weekend, as Fulham travel to Liverpool with both sets of supporters wondering what has happened to a player who was so highly rated — and in good form — just a year ago.

The decision to join Leipzig— who are known for giving young players from across the world an opportunity to play, increase their value and earn a move to a bigger club — appealed to Carvalho.

Not only have Liverpool signed Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konateand Naby Keita from Leipzig in recent years but players such as Josko Gvardiol, Christopher Nkunkuand Timo Werner have all performed admirably for Leipzig in previous years and gone on to move to the Premier League, admittedly with varying levels of success.

Carvalho had declined alternative movesto fellow Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, Italian duo AC Milanand Roma and the Premier League’s Burnley, who were all keen to give him a platform to showcase the skills that became so clear when, as a 19-year-old, he tore up the Championshipplaying just behind Aleksandar Mitrovicin Fulham’s attack.

The “project” at Leipzig and the chance to play in the Champions League was intriguing.

A presentation from the club won him over, and it was widely agreed among his inner circle that an opportunity to play regularly in a team who see plenty of possession — only Bayer Leverkusenand Bayern Munich, the top two, have had more of the ball in the Bundesliga this season — would give him the greatest opportunity to shine and remain in Liverpool’s thoughts after a frustrating first year at Anfield.

So far, however, it has felt like a slog rather than a smooth transition. Carvalho has acquitted himself well in training, got to know those around him and worked hard at fitting in. Having been born in Portugal before moving to London with his family in 2013, he knows about readjusting to new surroundings so the idea of a year in Germany did not faze him.

But his chances of forcing his way into manager Marco Rose’s plans were dented early on when Leipzig’s other on-loan attacking midfielder, Xavi Simonsof Paris Saint-Germain, began to shine. His performance in the 3-0 win over Bayern in the DFL-Supercup (Germany’s equivalent of the Community Shield) in August laid down a marker and the 20-year-old Dutchman now has six goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga and Champions League. Simons has also started every game in both competitions

Simons has the most take-ons for Leipzig (40, 15 more than the player who is second for that metric) and is recognised as being mature beyond his years. Carvalho was heading that way this time last year when he featured in 10 of Liverpool’s first 11 Premier League games of the season before falling out of favour. Manager Jurgen Klopp began setting his team up without an obvious No 10, while questions were asked about the youngster’s defensive discipline.

At Leipzig, even with the ongoing injury absence of the brilliant Dani Olmo — who had scored a hat-trick in the Super Cup win and added further goals in the opening two Bundesliga games but hasn’t started since early September — and a drop-off in form for Emil Forsberg, who is expected to join New York Red Bulls of MLSin January, Carvalho has barely had a look-in.

Leipzig are interested in strengthening further in January, with La Ligaside Granada’s exciting winger Bryan Zaragoza among the players under consideration. Where that leaves Carvalho at this stage is uncertain, as Liverpool are in no rush to bring him back to Merseyside. The club were not willing to sanction a permanent move for Carvalho in the summer despite interest from multiple clubs, leaving the door open for a potential return in the future, or perhaps a move elsewhere.

It’s clear the first half of the season has not gone to plan, and what initially appeared to be a shrewd loan move is looking like a missed opportunity, given he has played just 13 per cent of the available minutes in Leipzig’s Bundesliga campaign.

It was telling that after Leipzig underperformed in a 2-1 away defeat against Wolfsburglast weekend and Rose decided on three changes for the trip to City, Carvalho was kept on the bench.

Christoph Baumgartner, an Austrian midfielder signed from fellow Bundesliga side Hoffenheim over the summer, is another attacking option Rose has turned to more frequently than he has Carvalho. Baumgartner is second, behind Simons, for shot-creating actions per 90 minutes among players to see significant time for Leipzig, according to fbref.com, which shows that even with reduced minutes (he has appeared in 11 of the 12 league matches but only started three), he’s effective when he plays.

Perhaps his goal that never was in midweek will be a timely reminder that Carvalho still has plenty to offer, if he is given the time to show it.

With Simons having suffered a minor shoulder injury, there might now be a window of opportunity for Carvalho to get into the starting line-up.

Leipzig have five games left until German football reaches its winter break, beginning today (Saturday) at home against struggling Heidenheim. That month-long hiatus from December 19 offers the chance to assess both collective and individual performances and consider what is needed in the winter transfer window.

For Carvalho, time is of the essence.

This loan was supposed to spark his career back into life. All it has done is raise more questions.https://theathletic.com/5104237/2023/12/02/fabio-carvalho-liverpool-rb-leipzig-loan/