Carv out his own opportunities
Fabio Carvalho has admitted he thought he would get a chance to break into Liverpool’s first team before leaving for Brentford.
The Portuguese starlet looked to have finally found his feet at Anfield after an impressive pre-season under new boss Arne Slot.
Having joined for £5m from Fulham in 2022, Carvalho managed 21 appearances in his first season under Jurgen Klopp, starting just eight times and scoring three goals.
He then endured a frustrating loan spell with RB Leipzig in the first half of last year, but a strong finish at Hull City and the arrival of Slot offered him a fresh start during Liverpool’s pre-season.
The 21-year-old then scored in friendly victories over rivals Manchester United and Arsenal during Liverpool’s tour of the USA.
However, the return of more established stars from an extended break due to their involvements in Euro 2024/Copa America such as Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz meant regular football would be unlikely.
Carvalho has since completed a move to Brentford, worth an initial £22.5million, and made his debut for the Bees in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
Asked if he felt he had a role to play at Anfield, Carvalho told Sky Sports: “I did. I thought I did alright [in pre-season], to be fair.
“But as a footballer, you get that feeling where you know certain players aren’t back and when they come back things change.
“You sort of get that feeling and when that happens you’re like, yeah, this is the real deal and it’s like I’m not just going to stay at Liverpool.
“As much as I love the club, it’s one of the best clubs in the world and I’ve got nothing but love for the fans, but I’m not going to sit on the bench because what’s the point?”
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