Thiago Alcantara
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.”
