Thiago registered a worrying season low for Liverpool vs Arsenal on Sunday. The Reds went down 3-2 at the Emirates.
Liverpool had a mixed bag against Arsenal. On the one hand, they scored twice and had some very dangerous moments against the Gunners. On the other, they conceded three easily preventable goals.
One of those goals, ultimately the winning goal, came from the penalty spot. Thiago was the one to give it away but, in truth, it was a soft one. Even Ian Wright admitted that after the game.
So we won’t really hold that against Thiago – it was a freak incident. That’s not to say that the Spaniard had a solid game, though. In fact, he registered his worst passing percentage of the season.
Thiago completed just 78.5% of his passes against Arsenal. For a player who averaged 89% completion in each of his first two seasons with the club, it’s a worrying number.
Thiago for Liverpool v Arsenal
Now, Thiago is easily one of the best passers on the planet and we’re not suggesting for a second that he’s forgotten how to do it. Instead, his completion is a sign that Liverpool aren’t clicking together.
Thiago isn’t finding his teammates anywhere near as easily as he did last season. That, in turn, means Liverpool can’t control games in the same way. They’re not maintaining possession in the right areas and the Spaniard isn’t cutting through teams as well as he can.
Perhaps the change to 4-4-2 is a problem there. Fewer players in midfield gives Thiago fewer options. Liverpool’s direct passing game against Arsenal also forced him to try more difficult passes than he typically would.
It means Liverpool aren’t getting the best out of a player who is ‘unbelievable’ and a ‘class act’, in the words of Paul Merson. You can say the same about many in the Reds’ side right now, of course, but Thiago is supposed to be a guarantee of control every time he’s on the pitch.
Against Arsenal, though, that control was lacking.
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