Fabinho believes Liverpool have taken extra satisfaction from starting the season "in the best way" by beating Manchester City – and has revealed how Roberto Firmino has taken new boy Darwin Nunez under his wing.
The Reds, the FA Cup holders, secured the first silverware of the season by beating Premier League champions City 3-1 in the Community Shield on Saturday.
The two sides are expected to lead the battle for the title again this season after Pep Guardiola's side held off Liverpool by a point last term.
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And Fabinho admits Jurgen Klopp's men have taken encouragement from beating a team he regards the best in the country.
"Of course, it is always important to win trophies," said the Brazil international midfielder. "Winning against City, I'm not going to lie, feels better because they are the best team in England so it feels good to beat them. I think it is the best way to start the season.
"Have we sent a message? I think it is important for us because it was a really intense game, it was tough physically. All the players who played 90 minutes it was the first time they had done that this season – in pre-season we didn't play 90 minutes. It is good for the legs to be better physically for the start of the Premier League."
Nunez made a huge difference when making his Liverpool debut from the bench shortly before the hour, winning the penalty from which Mohamed Salah scored the Reds' second and then netting the match-clinching third in injury time.
The Uruguayan, who arrived in June for an initial £64million from Benfica, had attracted harsh criticism from some quarters following earlier pre-season performances, and Fabinho admits getting off the mark in his first game was important for the striker.
"He is in a period of adaptation," he said. "We saw he is getting better. In the first game of pre-season he didn't know the team really well but we have done three weeks of training so he knows a little bit the way we play.
"And we are learning a little bit more about the way he plays. We know he is fast and strong and a proper number nine who will be in the box. It looks like the ball will follow him and he will always get chances to score. It's really important to him to score in his first official game in a Liverpool shirt so he will be really important to us this season."
Fabinho was among a number of Klopp signings to require a period out of the team adapting to Liverpool's methods before becoming a hugely influential figure. And he has explained how Firmino is helping Nunez settle in his new surroundings.
"To be honest, we always want to play and always think we are ready to play in a new team and a new league and are ready for the intensity," said Fabinho. "But we learn from the players who play longer at Liverpool so it is important for him to learn with Bobby, Diogo (Jota).
"He has a really good relationship with Bobby, they are always together and I think Bobby gives him some tips so it will be important for him to learn from a player like Bobby. He is the kind of player like Luis (Diaz) – you can put him in the team and he will score goals and do a good job and he will give a lot of work for the opposition defenders."
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