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Jurgen Klopp believes it is finally time to unleash new look Fabinho on the world.

And the Liverpool boss believes his £43million summer signing is ready to prove he is capable of taking his team to another level, with his 'perfect attributes' as a holding midfielder.

The Reds haven't been firing on all cylinders in recent weeks, despite keeping pace Manchester City down in the Premier League. The Brazilian has struggled to find his feet too, making just one competitive start so far for his new club — in the Carabao Cup.

Yet Klopp is adamant that is merely a matter of learning what is a completely alien system of play.

And now he believes Fabinho knows enough to make everything thing click for the Mersey club, and provide a new dimension of quality.

(Image: Reuters) (Image: AFP/Getty)

“We already made the decision he is the right player, yes — when we signed him. He has the qualities, all the qualities,” said the manager. “Hard challenges. Good offensively, defensively. Quick. Good shooter. Fantastic set-pieces. Good header... all these things. Good strategically too, in the right moment.

“He's just a fantastic addition and can improve us from a specific moment on.”

With the Reds' boss ruling Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita out of Wednesday's crucial Champions League home game with Red Star Belgrade, and fellow midfielder Adam Lallana unlikely to start as he eases his way back from long-term injury, Fabinho looks a certain selection.

(Image: AFP/Getty) (Image: Reuters)

Klopp explained he is still to decide definitely, but dropped just about the biggest hint possible when asked if the Brazilian had a chance:

“Yes, it's clear. It's his birthday by the way. So it would be a nice present, eh?

“It's got better and better from him and now it's good. I didn't decide how we will start but of course it is very important for us he's here for a few months already, got used to a few things... so we will use him.”

The problem has not been with Fabinho's quality, but the long learning curve required to understand the complicated pressing tactics used in a Klopp system.

(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

(Image: Action Images via Reuters)

And the Anfield boss also conceded the midfielder – who joined from French heavyweights Monaco – is not the diva type who demands attention.

“You come to a club and it depends a bit on your personality. He's not the loudest person on the planet. He is rather reserved, looking, watching, absorbing, and it always takes a little bit more time. But on the pitch, he is back now and that's good,” said Klopp.

“I've no problems, honestly. Go back a year and Andy Robertson played what, one or two games by this stage? And then he became the player he now is.

“I've said it a few times, I cannot shorten that time it takes (to settle into system). Maybe somebody can, I can't.

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“You come into my team, it needs a bit of time. Ilkay Gundogan (at Borussia Dortmund) needed more or less half a year without being in the squad. After that he played pretty much each game.

“That's how things go. You need to adapt to the style of play that's just it.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino all return, which means Dejan Lovren, Daniel Sturridge and Xherdan Shaqiri make way.

PROBABLE TEAMS

LIVERPOOL Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Gomez, Robertson; Milner, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.

RED STAR BELGRADE Borjan; Stojkovic, Degenek, Babic, Gobeljic; Krsticic, Causic, Ebecilio; Srnic, Ben, Boakye.