After several months of rumours about the move, Liverpool announced the signing of Thiago Alcantara in mid September. Several months earlier, he’d made Bayern Munich aware he didn’t see himself continuing at the club and wanted a new adventure.
For Jurgen Klopp’s side the transfer was seen as a very positive one, and there’s still an argument to be made for that despite the Reds’ struggles so far this season.
Liverpool find themselves in sixth place, losing to Everton 2-0 on Saturday. Carlo Ancelotti’s side took all three points from Anfield, thanks to goals from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Everton now find themselves on level points with their neighbours, having played one game fewer.
Thiago started the match, yet wasn’t able to have enough of an impact. He’s now featured in 12 Premier League matches for Liverpool, and only been on the winning side on three occasions.
Kicker report the Bundesliga champions are missing the Spaniard, and say it’s left the club without flexible options in midfield and elsewhere.
The German outlet explains: ‘While coach Hansi Flick had a fixed point in midfield with Thiago in the previous season, supplemented with Joshua Kimmich or Leon Goretzka, the FCB coach lost the alternative this season. Kimmich is seeded as a six, yes, he is undoubtedly able to cover Thiago’s departure, but it takes away the variability of the Munich team to react to a weakness in form or any injuries to the right-back. Like at the Champions League tournament in Lisbon, when Kimmich defended for Benjamin Pavard at right back, Thiago and Goretzka occupied the centre midfield. Marc Roca and Corentin Tolisso, who is injured until the end of the season, could not fill this gap.’
Bayern failed to bring in adequate replacements for the players they lost, yet still find themselves two points clear at the top of the league.
