Michael Owen was in awe of one moment from Thiago when Liverpool beat Watford last weekend. The Spaniard produced some magic.
Michael Owen waxed lyrical about Thiago on BT Sport this evening after a pass he made in Liverpool 2-0 Watford. The former Reds striker could barely believe how Thiago did it – he didn’t even think it was on.
It was a moment in the first half that saw Thiago pick up the ball in the centre circle. He has three passes in front of him across the pitch – all of which look routine.
But the Spaniard instead cuts the ball through two defensive lines to find Curtis Jones on the edge of the box. It was a remarkable moment and one that Owen could barely believe.
“This is my favourite clip out of the lot,” said Owen. “When you look at the options he has here – he could go safe, could even risk that one. It’s not even on! Where does he see it? He doesn’t even lift his head at any point. Wow.”
Thiago at Liverpool
Peter Crouch, also doing punditry for BT Sport, likes what he sees from Thiago, too. Rather than a specific moment, though, he wanted to point out where the player is improving.
“Positionally, this year [he’s improved],” said Crouch. “I think last year, he might have been just two or three yards behind the play. But I think the fact is that he is positionally better this season. That’s a goal-saving tackle [vs Inter].”
There’s little doubt that Thiago fits in now better than he did last year. But then, it was almost impossible in his debut campaign.
Injuries across the team crippled things and Thiago found himself trying to adapt to a team that barely functioned. Defensively, he played plenty of games in a holding midfield role that really isn’t his.
Now, though, Thiago is playing fantastically well and certainly looks like an ideal fit. Everyone is back in the team and the midfielder is playing his natural game – the improvement in his positioning is a wonderful consequence.
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