He was our best midfielder this season just gone and the only thing stopping me giving a perfect ten was the amount of games he missed. It probably isn’t that many in reality but it sure feels like it, because even two weeks without Thiago feels like a lifetime.
I want him on the pitch all the time and even when he’s subbed to keep him fresh I just feel a massive sense of disappointment that he’s leaving the field. Watching Thiago is an experience all of itself. There are some players who are just different. You find your eyes drawn to them more than the others. Barnes, Alonso, Molby, Suarez, Thiago etc. Just players who are mesmeric with what they do. As I say, they're just different.
After an up and down first season (which remember, doesn't count as it wasn't real football) Thiago was incredible this past season, particularly since the turn of the year when he put an extended run of games together and basically just blew the doors off with how good he was. He’s unreal isn’t he? He put together back to back performances against City and United that are as good as anything I’ve ever seen from a Liverpool midfielder, and we’ve been blessed with some phenomenal midfield players down the years.
Thiago is probably the best of the lot just in terms of class and ability. He won’t go down as the best because he won’t have the longevity (or the durability), but honestly, there were times last season where I’ve watched Thiago and not only have I thought ‘he’s the best midfielder I’ve seen for us’, if I’m being completely honest I’ve even pondered whether he’s actually the best player.
He’s not, because for me it’s still Luis Suarez, but one day I might change my mind on that the way Thiago is going (Salah too). I know that's a bold claim but my reasoning is that even though Thiago is playing in a ridiculously good team surrounded by world class players, there are times when he’s clearly a level above even them. What does that say about him? Imagine being on a pitch with Van Dijk, Salah, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Mané etc and standing out above all of them. Thiago has done that at times. Not every game, but more than just the odd once or twice.
The goal he scored against Porto is probably the cleanest struck goal I’ve ever seen. The way that ball moved was unbelievable. He should score more actually, not necessarily as good as that one, but his shooting has been the one area of disappointment. Everything else is incredible, including his pressing and tackling, which was not something I expected from him.
It hasn’t always been so and that’s something he’s added since coming here. Klopp revealed recently that he told Thiago “if I knew you were this good I’d have signed you four years ago” and Thiago responded by saying “you taught me how to run!”
He's phenomenal at winning headers too and with a bit more luck he'd have scored two or three when arriving late in the box and getting his head on the end of crosses. He'll get one of those next season, I can feel it.
I love how hungry he still is despite winning everything there is to win. When he missed the League Cup Final after getting hurt in the warm up he was completely distraught. All the trophies he's won and he's devastated about missing a League Cup. That speaks volumes about him.
What a player. And what a man, he's just a proper Alpha. I fucking love Thiago.
Previous Season Ratings:
2020/21: Season doesn’t count
This Season’s Rating: 9/10
Could easily have gone with a 10 but for the absences.
Best Moment:
The goal against Porto was one for the ages. I could just as easily have gone with his performance at Wembley against City.
Worst Moment:
Two of them. Getting injured in the League Cup warm up and missing the game, and getting injured in the CL Final warm up and basically missing that game too.
The Future?
He’ll be even better this coming season.
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