Ian Wright has claimed that Liverpool have an ‘unbelievable’ midfielder in injured maestro Thiago Alcantara.
Speaking on The Kelly & Wrighty Show on Optus Sport, Wright likened Thiago’s quality to that of Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.
“When you have a striker who is willing to break, the high line cannot happen, you are going to have to drop off,” said the pundit.
“You have De Bruyne and all those unbelievable players in midfield, like Thiago, who are going to have time and space and then you have a problem.”
More frustration for Thiago
Thiago’s ability has never been in doubt at Liverpool. In fact, he and De Bruyne are probably far and away the two best midfielders in the league.
Instead, the question marks are all around his injury history. The sight of the 31-year-old hobbling off during Liverpool’s first Premier League game of the season was grimly predictable.
To be fair, up until his departure in the 51st minute, Thiago had looked all at sea at Craven Cottage on Saturday. He was far from alone in that in a desperately poor Liverpool performance, though.
Now, The Athletic have reported that the Spaniard will miss the next six weeks with a hamstring problem. Forget his below-par display at Fulham. That is the news no Liverpool fan wanted to hear.
It leaves The Reds short of numbers and a little short of quality in the midfield.
Whether Jurgen Klopp chooses to address that in the closing weeks of the transfer market remains to be seen. But given what we know about Thiago’s injuries, the six-week projection does seem slightly optimistic.
The Spain international had looked to be in good shape heading into the season for the first time in his Liverpool career. That he now once again faces an extended spell on the side-line is incredibly frustrating.
Fingers crossed he responds well to the treatment and can be back pulling the strings before October.
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