​Liverpool assistant Ljinders: Wijnaldum, Henderson & Fabinho like queens on chess board | OneFootball

Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders believes the team has struggled without its key midfielders in their optimal roles throughout the season.

The injuries to center backs Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez are well publicized.

However, Lijnders believes having to play Jordan Henderson and Fabinho as center backs for much of the season had an equally detrimental impact on the team's form and results.

Speaking about Fabinho to the club's website, Lijnders said: "He just always puts the team above himself. In the same package you get someone who is only concerned about making the team better, there is no space for ego.

"He is a real team player. Luckily we have three of them, Gini and Hendo have this characteristic as well.

"Having two midfielders like that is like the queen in the chess game. You lose the queen, who defends in offence.

"You need two who can control a game by being dominant without the ball. That's what we are searching for."