When Liverpool faced Real Madrid in last year’s Champions League final, they were competing in their 63rd match of a mammoth season as their unprecedented quadruple hopes ended up as a domestic cup double.
As a result, the starting XI Jurgen Klopp named in Paris featured many walking wounded. Starting as the holding midfielder, Fabinho played for the first time since limping off with a hamstring injury after just 30 minutes in the Reds' 2-1 away victory over Aston Villa nearly three weeks earlier.
That lay-off ruled him out of the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 14, with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk both joining him on the sidelines after being forced off at Wembley. The Egyptian lasted 33 minutes before giving in to a muscle injury, while a knee injury ended the Dutchman's involvement at the end of 90 minutes.
