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“How are we?”
In just three words, the support of Liverpool, already delighted by the declaration signed in September from the Champions League winner Bayern Munich, had their hearts won by new boy Thiago Alcantara.
The problem since then has been that if he were asked the question himself, the Spaniard would have given the same answer more often than not.
Injured.
On Wednesday, however, Thiago made his long-awaited return to action after more than two months on the sidelines with a knee problem suffered in the derby draw at Goodison.
And now his response to the welfare inquiry would be markedly different.
Concentrated. Determined. Hungry. Intention.
If Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool faithful were angered by Thiago’s absence for much of the campaign to date, such emotions will pale in comparison to the frustration felt by the player himself.
Thiago can rightly be considered one of the best midfielders in the game following his success with Spain, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t want to impress his new fan base.
The final 135 minutes of action at Stamford Bridge and Goodison had whetted an appetite and hinted at what was to come.
But Thiago’s late cameo at Newcastle United has highlighted key factors – not all of which are blatantly apparent – that will benefit Liverpool for the remainder of the season.
There was the immediate impact of his arrival, his passing range – and the speed at which the delivery was executed – creating different angles and giving a different tempo to the Reds’ game as they chased a late winner.
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Several of his teammates responded to Thiago’s polls by raising their game. As we have seen regularly with Virgil van Dijk, it already seems that the Spaniard is able to improve the level of his entourage.
Most notable, however, was the approach of the player himself. While smart distribution was his calling card, which reflected his willingness to get stuck, get into tough courts, and seek possession. Despite his height of 5 feet 9 inches, he hasn’t lost a single aerial duel in midfield.
Has the Spaniard been underestimated in this regard? Only time will tell.
Retaining the Premier League title is not easy. Indeed, the only team to do so in the past decade – Manchester City in 2019 – needed 98 points to do so.
And while the majority of Liverpool’s squad have now won a medal winner, Thiago has not. If there is ever a danger that the peloton will be caught off guard by last season’s success, the Spaniard’s determination to add the English title to those won in Spain in Germany will surely be influential.
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Remarkable to think Thiago still hasn’t kicked a ball at Anfield for his new club, his only previous stadium outing coming for Bayern against the Reds in the Champions League more than two years ago.
He will have to wait at least two more weeks for this opportunity. Instead, St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton could be the next venue for the midfielder – perhaps early on.
How are Liverpool doing? With Thiago available, considerably relieved – and a more disheartening proposition now, their summer signature brand is available again.
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