Thiago Alcântara is yet to showcase his best form for Liverpool since arriving from Bayern Munich last summer.
His adaptation to life in England, both on and off the pitch, was made difficult after the 29-year-old was tested positive for coronavirus in September.
A month later, the midfielder suffered a knee injury that kept him out of action until the end of December.
The Spain international’s return to the team coincided with down turn in the Reds’ form in the last two months, which has seen them drop to sixth place in the league table and get knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round.
There was even a suggestion that Thiago’s signing looks like a failure for the Merseyside club.
He played his first Champions League match for Liverpool in their 2-0 win over RB Leipzig on Tuesday.
Kicker explain Jürgen Klopp’s side ‘by no means left the impression of a battered team, but did not shine either, but did their job in a serene and business-like manner’.
The German outlet then shift their focus on the former Bundesliga player and state Thiago did well against Leipzig. They, however, warn the Spaniard is ‘not yet the boss, the driver and the thinker in the midfield’.
That’s because Thiago’s adaptation to the Premier League was made difficult due to the knee injury he suffered earlier in the season.
Kicker further add the English champions will ‘also have to adjust to him’, if they were to see the best version of the Spaniard.
As per the report, Thiago was ‘brought in’ to the club give Liverpool’s game what was missing at times; ‘inspiration’ and ‘creativity’.
For him to do his job, Klopp’s men have to ‘give him the balls he demands and not hit him’. The outlet even suggest the player was ‘pragmatic to escape’ Leipzig’s pressing.
Despite all of this, Kicker still think Thiago’s signing can be a success for the Anfield club, but for the ‘transfer to pay off, both sides must move towards each other’.
