In an exclusive interview with the Liverpool ECHO’s Theo Squires, Fabio Carvalho, who is currently impressing on loan at Hull City, shares his thoughts on his future at Liverpool, amidst the impending departure of manager Jurgen Klopp.
Fabio Carvalho, despite spending the last season on loan, is determined to revive his Liverpool career this summer.
After a disappointing first year at Liverpool, Carvalho was loaned out due to limited playing time, a consequence of the team’s poor performance in the 2022/23 season.
Originally signed from Fulham for £7.7m, Carvalho struggled to secure a starting position, making only eight starts. He then joined RB Leipzig on loan, followed by a move to Hull City in January after facing limited opportunities in Germany.
Carvalho has since found his footing at Hull City, scoring nine goals in 19 games and rediscovering his joy for the game.
As the season comes to a close, speculation surrounding Carvalho’s future persists, with reports indicating interest from other clubs amidst the impending departure of manager Jurgen Klopp after nine years at Anfield.
As Feyenoord’s Arne Slot is expected to succeed the German, Carvalho is eager to make a strong impression on the incoming Liverpool manager during pre-season, as he prepares to battle for his place within the team and secure his future at the club.
“Yeah, that’s the target,” he exclusively told the ECHO when asked if he’ll be with the Reds for pre-season. “The way I see it, it’s a fresh start. Not just for me, but obviously whoever comes in.
“It’ll be a fresh start for me, and for the likes of Tyler (Morton – fellow Liverpool loanee at Hull City) as well. We’ve just got to take the chances that come. Really grasp it and take it with both hands.
“Yeah, Tyler and I have spoken (about about the summer). Especially after the news came out about Jurgen. We just spoke about what could potentially change at the club.
“Ultimately, it’s a fresh start for both of us. We’ll just go back there with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
“Obviously I want to break into the Liverpool first-team squad, into the starting XI as well. For now, I’m focused on Hull City and getting promoted. I’m going to see how pre-season turns out and then we’ll make a decision (on my future) after that.”
In an interview with the ECHO before Liverpool’s pursuit of Slot, Carvalho admitted being aware of the rumours surrounding Klopp’s potential successor. While the identity of such an individual could significantly impact his own future at the club, Carvalho confessed that he wasn’t giving much thought to the speculation.
“I’ve heard a few things but I’m just focused on myself and focused what I’m doing right now,” he said. “I’m trying to stay away from the social media and all that, which doesn’t really add anything to my life.
“Whoever comes in, I’m sure that whoever is appointed, the fans will have their back and I’m sure that the owners and the higher-ups won’t make a decision where it’s going to backfire, I’m sure they will make the right decision.”
When Klopp revealed his surprise decision to leave Liverpool in January, Carvalho was just as shocked as the rest of the football community. Morton informed the forward of the news, but Carvalho has yet to discuss Klopp’s departure with him directly, as he also plans to leave the club.
“Same way you did I think!” he laughed when asked how he found out. “Just on the internet. I remember it was right before training.
“I was getting ready to go out and then Tyler was like, ‘Fabio, have you seen what’s happened?’ I was like, ‘nah’, and he showed me on his phone.
“And then I went on my phone, I had a few messages from people who I know and who are close to me. They all just said the same thing.
“I’ve not spoken to him (Klopp). Because I know he’s got a lot of stuff to focus on! But I will speak to him eventually.
“He had the League Cup final, which we won. He’s got a lot of stuff going on and I’ll just leave him until the end (of the season). Eventually I’ll speak to him.
“I wasn’t even onto Harvey (Elliott – having come through the ranks at Fulham together before linking up at Liverpool). We don’t really speak about it. I just want him to focus because it was during a period where they had a few games. We had a few games ourselves and we need to focus on our own careers. But I’m sure we will catch up on it.”
Liverpool’s season ha fizzled out since the March international break, a stark contrast to their quadruple ambitions just eight weeks prior. However, Fabio Carvalho, who experienced the club’s struggles last season, has been impressed by their improved performance this time around.
The highlight of Liverpool’s campaign was undoubtedly their League Cup final triumph over Chelsea in February, where a youthful side, featuring talented Academy players, overcame a severe injury crisis to emerge victorious at Wembley. Despite the team’s subsequent loss of momentum, Carvalho has been proud of his younger teammates’ efforts at Anfield, which have been hampered by a lengthy and prolonged list of absentees.
“It’s just been amazing what they’ve been doing really,” he said. “They had a lot of injuries, but I’m happy and I’m proud of the younger players who have stepped up and have done great things for the club.
“Seeing the academy players coming through, and a lot of them on the pitch when Virgil scored the goal, all of them celebrating together, it’s what football is about to be fair. You’ve got the experienced players and the new, fresh blood celebrating together and celebrating the title.
“They’re a credit to themselves, and it’s a credit to the coaches and the senior players already at the club who have taken them under their wings – the same as they did with me last year.
“I’m pretty sure a lot of people have been surprised by how they’ve done this season. Obviously they’ve got new signings, and off the back-end of last season.
“It’s a fresh start, fresh faces. With the ageing squad we had before, I still think we had a great squad and a squad that could have done so much better than what we did. Obviously that’s football. Liverpool are where they are now for a reason.”
Carvalho is well aware that his fortunes could have been vastly different with Liverpool this year if he hadn’t been loaned out last season, which limited his playing time. Despite his Liverpool career being a rollercoaster ride so far, he has no regrets and is focused on the future.
“Maybe if I was there, I would have been playing,” he admitted when reflecting on the Reds’ injury woes. “But I’m playing here (at Hull City) and that’s all that matters.
“There’s been a few highs, but a few lows as well (at Liverpool). It’s been a learning curve. It’s all about learning, it’s all about improving.
“We’ve got the players I can learn from, the facilities, the coaches. I’m just excited for the future. It’s not been great (so far), but in a way, that’s a good thing, depending on how you look at it. It can only get better.”
Carvalho has found his footing at Hull City, thriving in his natural position as a number 10, a role he previously excelled in at Fulham. He admitted that this position brings out the best in his football.
Under Klopp’s management, Liverpool have consistently utilised a 4-3-3 formation, which hasn’t provided Carvalho with the opportunity to showcase his skills. As a result, his first season at Anfield was marked by challenges and wasn’t entirely successful.
“I prefer playing as a 10. Playing out wide, I can do a job there but it’s not my natural position,” Carvalho admitted. “I’m not like Lucho Diaz. I can play there but I’m more of a number 10.
“That’s where I like playing, that’s where I enjoy playing. That’s kind of where I’m playing here (at Hull City). I get a lot of freedom to drop in, to do what is expected of me and what I like doing.
“I get that freedom from the manager. That’s what I want and that’s all I need, which is the trust. Because if you don’t have the trust, you don’t play with confidence. If you don’t have confidence, it’s nothing.”
With a new manager at the helm, Liverpool have the chance to reboot and potentially adopt a new system. This could work in Carvalho’s favor, allowing him to thrive in his preferred position once he returns, and potentially becoming a key player under the new management.
“You never know,” he laughs. “We’ll see!”
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