Why Thiago would not work at Liverpool
This summer Transfer Window is very much in the air, as fans, we are really not sure how each club has battled through a hardened three months both mentally and financially. FFP has been put on hold as clubs stick their hands down the back of their sofas in search for funds to improve their clubs in the exploration of silverware.
As recently crowned champions there are vast speculations as to who (if anyone) Liverpool would purchase. Having walked the league in such an imperious fashion, you would be forgiven for thinking that the champions are not in need of strengthening. However staying on top is a tricky task and competition for places is key, with many exacerbating Liverpool’s lack of class behind their preliminary eleven. When looking at domestic domination in past years, our minds immediately think back to Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, Juventus under Allegri and the current Bayern Munich team. All these squads were strengthened significantly year in year out, whether it was the inclusion of already made stars or forthcoming prospects.
It is difficult to see who could come in and earn a starting berth straight of the back, the current Liverpool team is the holder of some of the world’s greatest players, where this is not applicable, the functionality of a combination of certain members prevails over the individual quality of other competitors. The rumour mill has become relatively sparse for Liverpool over the last month, a link to Adama Traore quickly fizzled out and many red’s fans were left wondering If the summer would mirror 2019, with under £5 million pounds spent. However this looks unlikely to be the case, with Thiago expressing interest to join the English, European and World Champions.
What sort of player is Thiago?
Learning his trade at the famed “La Masia” academy, Thiago has accentuated his class to German and Spanish football fans for the best part of a decade. Aesthetically pleasing, with an aura of eminence with the ball at his feet, the Spain international has been a key component in an eight year long domestic Munich dominance.
Originally taking preference to ball carrying and mesmeric dribbling, the man born in Italy has added a secure and effective defensive solidity to his recent outings. Leading his team in tackles and interceptions, 7.98 per 90 accentuates an intelligent, defensively astute football player, particularly when contextualizing Bayern as a ball dominant team (unsurprisingly, the Germans are fourth in Europe for average possession.) This robust capability adds a deadly level of versatility to the midfielder’s game, to a point where he has become a match winner on countless occasions.
Thiago, who was born to Brazilian parents, is often found with the responsibility to link defence to attack, capable of opening his body and turning defenders, quickly progressing the ball up the pitch. This can be backed up by his 616 yards of progressive distance (Distance, in yards, that the ball was moved towards the opposition’s goal with passes and carries.) Ranking in the 98th percentile for midfielders across the top five European leagues. The Champions League winner is comfortable in all thirds of the pitch, and while he is not the most imposing figure standing at 5ft 9 inches tall, his technical proficiencies certainly make up for any physical shortcomings.
How would he fit into this Liverpool team?
73.6 % of Liverpool’s assists have come through either the full backs or the front three this year, a heavy indication of their creative source. Unlike the majority of other teams Liverpool do not expect their chance creation to stem from the middle of the park, Instead, direct play is utilised with the ball being shifted out wide to Trent Alexander Arnold and Robertson or through the authoritative front three.
Many believe that the components of Liverpool’s midfield three are individually the weakest members of the team. And to a certain extent I would agree, as a technical footballers there is no way Wijnaldum and Henderson can compete with their peers, yet Klopp’s midfield strives for functionality rather than finesse. Pressuring, hounding and an endless engine are vital traits in becoming a cog in a well-oiled machine. Thiago is the antithesis of the aforementioned Henderson and Wijnaldum, looking more to dribble and create chances or sit back and regain possession. We have seen with the likes of Naby Keita that more offensive dribbling centric midfielder have struggled for game time in Klopp’s fabled 4–3–3 system. It is poignant that Keita is often rolled out against weaker opposition, with his manager clearly focusing on bolstering the midfield against fiercer opposition.
The reports lean more to the fact that Thiago is keen on a fresh challenge rather than Liverpool are desperate for the UEFA U21 Golden player. There is no doubting Alcantara’s quality yet his functionality when placed into Liverpool’s midfield, hypothetically could present issues beyond his control.
