Fabinho has been one of Liverpool's key players under Jurgen Klopp, but it's hard not to feel sorry for a midfielder who has been run into the ground at times.
His signing in May 2018 came as a much needed boost after Liverpool had lost the Champions League final against Real Madrid just a day before and Klopp's revolution was about to take place.
With Virgil van Dijk secured four months earlier, Alisson Becker about to join the Reds and the £39 million signing of Fabinho - Liverpool were about to become the serial winners everyone is now accustomed to.
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It doesn't take a genius to work out where the problems lie for Liverpool this season: the midfield. Lack of reinforcement in the summer has cost the Reds a Premier League title challenge and maybe even a spot in the top four.
With Jordan Henderson now 32 years old and Thiago Alcanatara injury prone, Liverpool are short of options in the middle. Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will likely be moved on once their contracts expire in the summer while Curtis Jones has failed to stamp his authority on the side so far.
The Brazilian at his monstrous best had an energetic Henderson beside him as well as the ever-present Gini Wijnaldum, but with the captain aging and the Dutchman no longer at the club, Fabinho is the only one remaining from that league-winning midfield.
Fabinho has been the one constant in the middle for Liverpool, but that has also been his downfall at times. After playing 48 times last season and 51 games the campaign before, the Brazilian is in much need of a rest. But, that has not been possible.
The former Monaco star has had to play week in, week out for the Reds because there isn't much choice for Klopp, but that could be about to change.
Liverpool's pursuit of new midfield acquisitions is hotting up by the day as the January window approaches with Jude Bellingham the name on everyone's lips when talking about transfers.
But, the England man isn't the only man wanted by Liverpool as Argentina World Cup star Enzo Fernandez is reportedly on their radar, as is Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.
Fiorentina's Amrabat has been one of the players of the tournament in Qatar with his relentless running in the middle of the pitch and his ability to win almost every tackle he puts himself in for. He is one of the reasons why they went all the way to the semi-finals of the competition.
With Liverpool's reported interest in the Moroccan, has Klopp identified the protection in front of the defence as one of the problems in the side?
Manchester City's Rodri is the best in the league in this position, but Kalvin Phillips can come in and fill in if the Spaniard is in need of a rest. Fabinho deserves this luxury.
Of course, those players will cost a lot of money, but change is needed if Liverpool are to remain amongst the top sides in European football.
Midfielders being signed and Fabinho being rotated could be exactly what he needs in order to regain the type of form he showed when Liverpool were winning it all.
When Fabinho is on top of his game, so are Liverpool.
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