‘Exceptional’ rarely-seen Liverpool player really thought he was set for a big role this season

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Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara had expected to play a big part for the Reds this season.

Thiago has been in the news this week, with Jurgen Klopp confirming that he doesn’t expect to see the Spaniard fit until the New Year. It marks the latest chapter in a frustrating couple of years at Liverpool for Thiago.

But according to a report from the Liverpool ECHO today, the 32-year-old had expected things to go very differently in 2023/24.

They claim that having had offers to leave the Reds for Saudi Arabia this summer, he decided to stay put instead. Thiago is said to have made that decision based on the belief that he had a ‘sizeable’ role to play for Liverpool this year.

So far, that hasn’t proven to be the case. Whether that changes once the Reds’ No.6 returns to fitness remains to be seen.

Thiago still waiting for Liverpool role

Had Thiago been fit and ready for the start of the season, it’s likely that he would have played a decent role.

He may not have been starting every week, but the former Barcelona man certainly has a part to play.

On paper, some would actually argue that Thiago is still Liverpool’s most accomplished midfielder.

Dominik Szoboszlai and perhaps Alexis Mac Allister may have now put that up for debate. But on technical qualities alone, we still think Thiago comes out on top. Klopp called him ‘exceptional’ only yesterday and he truly is.

As a result, we do think that once the veteran is fit, he will come in and play his part. We just hope that he’s able to do so.

It would be disappointing if – with his contract up in the summer – Thiago’s Liverpool career were to fade away without a further impact.

Knowing the Spain international’s will to win, he will likely be disappointed with how things have gone at Anfield. He hasn’t had a bad Reds career by any means, picking up a couple of domestic cups and a place in the PFA Team of the Year in 2021/22.

Nevertheless, he’ll know he could perhaps have done more. That’s maybe partly why he decided to snub a lucrative move this summer, too. He still has a point to prove.

Let’s hope that in time, Thiago’s prediction about his place in the team this season proves correct. Fingers crossed that the frustration is nearly behind him.