Thiago: I have not been happy with my performances since arriving at Liverpool

Thiago Alcantara feels he has played below the standard he sets for himself since arriving at the club.

The 29 year-old with one of the finest pedigrees in modern day football came to the Reds in October to much excitement from the fanbase.

His first outing against Chelsea was just 45 minutes, but it was a cameo which certainly whetted the appetite in what he could deliver to a team that was already full of confidence and quality.

He continued that form in his second game against Everton but towards the end of that contest, he was at the end of a highly reckless challenge by Richarlison which saw the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona man on the sidelines for over two months with a knee injury.

Thiago returned to the side in late December but understandably took a while to get to speed.

But as the form of the side started to dip, the frustration of his slightly underwhelming performances started to grow louder and critics were not shy in questioning whether he was a good fit for this side.

Alcantara has been around the game long enough not to get swept up in any background noise, but as someone who takes incredible pride in his performance, knew that he had to raise his game.

The Echo (via TNT Sports Brasíl) reported the midfielder as saying:

“I don't read a word about what people talk about me.

"I know that I receive some criticism about my performances, but I'm not happy with my performance since I came here.

“A new club, a strange situation (COVID), I had a strong injury, so get to into the rhythm it was hard, but it's not an excuse.”

A fallout of the defensive crisis meant that Fabinho and Jordan Henderson had to deputise in central defence, meaning that Thiago could not strike up a working relationship with the duo.

Wednesday night was only the second time since he arrived that he had played with Fabinho in midfield, and certainly relished the opportunity to do so.