Liverpool's win percentage with Jordan Henderson and Fabinho

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpudlian juggernaut was typified by their majestic front three, creative demons at full-back, as well as the distinct excellence of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson.

The German's engine room somewhat went under the radar, but the trio in midfield were the pivotal stabilising force necessary in ensuring Liverpool's high-octane and high-risk methodology produced results week in, week out.

The wily Gini Wijnaldum offered technical security and protection against the counter from the left, club captain Jordan Henderson shouted and ran around a lot all while proving a useful outlet on occasions down the right, while the gangly Fabinho was the immovable presence at the base. As a trio, the dynamic worked in perfect harmony.

While the Reds' midfield play was good for a period in the wake of Wijnaldum's departure, Liverpool's engine room has certainly faded from the heights of 2018/19 and 2019/20. Henderson and Fabinho, in particular, have seen their performance levels dip and their respective woes last season were major factors in the club's disappointing campaign.

A midfield reshuffle was in order, and Liverpool have swiftly added a pair of fresh faces to their ranks in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to freshen up a stagnating position group.

Henderson and Fabinho are now both set for the Saudi frontier, but those coming in have a serious job on their hands if they're to reach the level of the Reds' midfield during their pomp under Klopp.

Liverpool's win percentage with Jordan Henderson and Fabinho

The overwhelming majority of Henderson and Fabinho's 149 appearances together arrived in the Premier League and Champions League. Only 12 didn't.

While Klopp has had a whole host of #8s at his disposal throughout his tenure, most struggled to assert themselves at Anfield and captain Henderson was so often deployed on the big occasion. Fabinho, meanwhile, was among the first names on the team sheet when he was at his best.

The pair lined up 107 times together in the Premier League, with Liverpool winning 72 of these games. That's an impressive win percentage of 67.3. However, their record was even better in the Champions League as the Reds lost just seven of the 29 games they played together, winning 20. Both started the 2019 final and were prominent figures throughout that knockout campaign.

Klopp's tendency to rotate for the cup competitions meant Henderson and Fabinho rarely featured in the FA and EFL Cups. Thus, the pair have played sporadically together in the FA Cup, but they did both start the two semi-final ties as well as the final in Liverpool's successful 2021/22 EFL Cup campaign.

Analysis - Toby Cudworth (Talking Transfers podcast)

In hindsight, Liverpool's midfield rebuild probably came 12 months too late. But 2022/23 dip aside, not only are Jordan Henderson and Fabinho heading for the exit door, but Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner have already left for pastures new.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister are very welcome additions, from RB Leipzig and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively, but neither player will fill the voids left by Henderson and Fabinho. That's where a player like Romeo Lavia, available from recently relegated Southampton, could come into the mix. He's 19, already reads the game exceptionally well and looks to have the required energy for playing in a Jurgen Klopp midfield.

Curtis Jones may also have a huge role to play for Liverpool this season, after impressing in the second half of last season and for England at the Under-21 Euros, but the addition of Lavia feels like an absolute must. If it's not to be the Belgian teenager, another defensive-minded midfielder with similar traits must be discovered by the Reds' recruitment team - and quickly.