Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp dismissed criticism of Thiago Alcantara as his side returned to winning ways against RB Leipzig ahead of Monday’s meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers. When asked by a German reporter about the midfielder,
Jurgen Klopp said “Thiago was good, they were all good. I assume when you all look at Liverpool from Germany, people say it’s (the problems) to do with Thiago or whatever – that’s rubbish. For the players who were new, they always needed time to get used to our gameplan but Thiago doesn’t have that. But he improves week on week. It is not a short-term project, it is a long-term project and it was good. It is very fluid how we work together, the boys played some nice passes and Thiago had a great chance as well, I think he could have had a shot on goal but instead passed.”
Klopp was able to move Fabinho back into his favoured defensive midfield role with the Brazilian having spent most of the season at centre-back after the injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. It was another boost for the German boss, who hinted he wants to keep the 27-year-old in the same position for the trip to face Wolves at Molineux.
Jurgen Klopp said “It was my hope before the season [Fabinho playing in midfield] and during the season it didn’t happen, so we have to see what solutions we can find for the next games – for Wolves first and foremost. Of course, No.6 is his position, one of the best in the world in that position, it’s clear. It was not only defending-wise really good from him, he played some good stuff as well. [He is] important for us.”
