Liverpool have been handed a potential injury boost after Fabinho was included in the latest Brazil squad despite limping off in the first half of the 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday night.
Jurgen Klopp confirmed the midfielder was feeling positive after suffering a muscle injury at Villa Park - with the Reds boss waiting to find out the severity of the setback ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final clash with Chelsea. Fabinho is inevitably a doubt for the showpiece occasion at Wembley but that hasn’t stopped him from being called up for the latest Brazil squad ahead of their June international fixtures.
The Selecao take on South Korea on June 2, Japan on June 6 and Argentina on June 11 - with the 28-year-old's inclusion perhaps suggesting that his injury is not too serious as Liverpool continue to chase an unprecedented quadruple.
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With a Champions League final clash with Real Madrid looming on May 28, Brazil physio Fabio Mahseredjian has revealed they are hopeful that Fabinho will be fit for the showpiece occasion in Paris.
"We don't have all the information yet,” he said. “But we are optimistic that he will reach the Champions League final."
Klopp is next due to face the media at his pre-match press conference ahead of the FA Cup final at 12pm on Friday, when he will offer an update on Fabinho’s condition. As well as both finals, Liverpool also have two Premier League clashes remaining away at Southampton on May 17 and at home to Wolves on May 22.
Fabinho is joined in the Brazil squad by Reds team-mate Alisson. However, there is once again no place for Roberto Firmino after the forward recently returned from a foot injury.
The 30-year-old, who was back in Klopp’s matchday squad for the first time in a month at Villa Park, has suffered from a number of injuries this season, and has been limited to 31 appearances as a result, though that hasn’t prevented him from scoring 11 goals.
Yet such setbacks have seen him miss out on Brazil squad in recent months - with Firmino’s last cap for his country coming in their Copa America final defeat to Argentina last July. With the 2022 World Cup taking place in Qatar this winter, he will be looking to finish the season strongly and stay injury-free as he targets an international recall.
