Liverpool might have a second Thiago in his 26-year-old teammate

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool might have a really interesting complement to Thiago in their squad. Naby Keita impressed alongside the Spaniard on Thursday evening.

We’ve been incredibly impressed with Thiago in recent weeks – his best performances in a Liverpool shirt. In fact, there can no longer be any doubt over his fit with the Reds. Thiago is a wonderful player and one who drives the team forward perfectly.

That’s something Liverpool didn’t really have before the Spaniard. Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum are magnificent players but neither are ‘progressive’. Or at least, not at Thiago’s level.

They don’t consistently work the ball between the lines with ease. Thiago coming in added that dimension to Liverpool, who get up the pitch better now. That’s his role and he might be the best in the world at it.

No one averages more progressive passes (forward passes over 10 yards) per 90 in the Premier League than Thiago at 10.5. The next closest player to have totalled at least 90 minutes this season is Trent Alexander-Arnold, and he’s only at 9.3 per 90. Thiago is a phenomenon.

And with that in mind, there’s an interesting complement to Thiago in the Liverpool squad – Naby Keita. The Reds could use these two in interesting ways.

Thiago to Keita?

Keita played 17 minutes for Liverpool against Newcastle. He was very effective in those 17 minutes, too, and he progressed the ball wonderfully.

The 26-year-old did it completely differently, however. Keita didn’t play a single progressive pass in that time but managed six progressive carries with the ball. Over a full 90, he’d have been comfortably over 20 at that rate – Newcastle managed 13 as a team.

Carrying and dribbling has always been one of Keita’s strengths and at his best, that’s what he brings to Liverpool. Thiago’s influence of late shows how important that could be, too.

Liverpool can either play them together and become a brilliantly versatile, progressive side – as we briefly saw against the Magpies. Or Keita can be a way that Liverpool ease their reliance on Thiago. With the Guinean, they don’t necessarily need Thiago’s passing quite as much.

So okay, a ‘second Thiago’ might be a stretch but Keita can deliver a similar influence after the Spaniard showed Liverpool how important ball movement can be in this group. If he can finally steer clear of injuries, Liverpool might have themselves a valuable weapon in Keita.

All stats per FBref.