Thiago’s arrival brings guile to the Liverpool midfield and a new dimension to their forward play
- After an impressive debut, Thiago looks set to change Liverpool’s approach with a focus more on artistry than energy
Time was running out, though. Every manager in the top flight – and coaches across Europe – has been studying the German’s methods and working on ways to pin back Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson and cut off the supply to Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. A simple message was being repeated across the game: make Liverpool’s midfield beat us.
Pep Lijnders, Klopp’s number two, spelt out the situation in July in an interview in his native Netherlands. “Trent and Robbo literally give us wings,” the Dutchman said. “But the rotten thing is teams are already trying to stop that. It is up to us to remain unpredictable.”
The signing gives Klopp a much bigger palate of options. Opponents have increasingly been overloading the flanks to stop the full backs advancing. Arsenal, who come to Anfield on Monday night, have started the Premier League season using a 3-4-3 formation that appears to have been fashioned by Mikel Arteta with one eye on the champions.
Any plans designed to curtail Liverpool’s width no longer apply. Thiago brings a new level of threat from central areas. Klopp famously introduced the phrase “heavy metal football” into the game’s lexicon but his title winners had a much more subtle approach despite the success of the past two campaigns being built on pace and power. The addition of Thiago provides a massive injection of craft. Not only is the newcomer one of the best passers of the ball in the world, he can change the tempo of a match. Liverpool have been used to imposing their rhythm on the opposition and their most successful rivals have been able to interrupt that cadence. Thiago is superb at dictating the momentum – he is one of the few players able to slow the action down and speed it up at will. Klopp’s platoon of midfielders have many qualities but none of them are able to change the direction of a game in the way Thiago can.
Many arrivals from abroad find the speed and physicality of the Premier League difficult to deal with initially. For most, a period of adjustment is required. So far, Thiago has shown signs that he will be able to cope in the different environment. He enjoyed his first 45 minutes of top-flight action in the 2-0 victory over Chelsea last week but that was against 10 men after Andreas Christensen was sent off just before half-time. Arsenal will be a bigger test but Thiago’s vast experience and intelligent use of positioning gives him a huge advantage over the majority of players arriving on English shores.
Thiago’s vision on the ball will give a different dimension to the front three’s threat. His presence will also allow Klopp to shift from his favoured 4-3-3 blueprint to a 4-2-3-1 shape
Liverpool supporters are more excited about his impact going forward. Thiago’s vision on the ball will give a different dimension to the front three’s threat. His presence will also allow Klopp to shift from his favoured 4-3-3 blueprint to a 4-2-3-1 shape. With Diogo Jota, the £40 million signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers, offering another alternative in attack, Thiago will have plenty of weapons to utilise.
The Liverpool manager has acted from a position of strength. Alarm bells are going off across the Premier League. Just as tacticians across the country believed they had the measure of the champions, Klopp has sent them back to the whiteboard with an even more difficult conundrum.
At Anfield they believe Thiago is the right man at the right time. The rest of the division will be praying they are wrong. Liverpool have reset the clock.
