Thiago Alcantara

[Tribute]

I don't agree: I think the stats quoted just show how easy it is to use stats to support almost any view one might have (Butch Wilkins probably had a high success rate for his passing too, but it was rarely progressive); Gini has been playing defensive midfield in some of the recent games and in at least one other Thiago had to be moved to a more advanced role because he was not able to cope in a covering role forward; and he gave away the freekick against Leicester and it was his header that created the passing opporrtunity for Everton's first goal so, even if I wouldn't put the blame for those goals solely at his feet, I also wouldn't describe his performances as 'solid'.

I do have high hopes for him in a Liverpool shirt and everytime he gets the ball I will him to do something decent with it, but currently he is in the 11 because of a lack of decent alternatives rather than because of his performances.

Fine - that’s your opinion, I just disagree.
You can prove anything with stats, and quite right too...

Thiago was moved forward to offer more of an attacking threat than the other two alongside him... to try and unlock some passes to the front three. In my view - and yes, it is my view - he’s coped admirably as a CDM considering it’s not his natural position.

There are plenty of others who have played far worse of late...

[Imy]

Good player.
Just not one for us.
Two good games, 1 vs 10 man Chelsea and the other vs Villa's kids.
He's joined too late in his football career.
The game is too fast and/or physical for him, he's just not got the legs for a Klopp team.
Will he improve when Van Dijk comes back (and by extension Hendo/and Fab in CM)? who knows, especially at this stage of his career. Lets not forget he's not an attacking midfielder, he played as a 6 at Bayern.
He reminds me of Morientes who looked lost.

[S-RED]

Good player.
Just not one for us.
Two good games, 1 vs 10 man Chelsea and the other vs Villa's kids.
He's joined too late in his football career.
The game is too fast and/or physical for him, he's just not got the legs for a Klopp team.
Will he improve when Van Dijk comes back (and by extension Hendo/and Fab in CM)? who knows, especially at this stage of his career. Lets not forget he's not an attacking midfielder, he played as a 6 at Bayern.
He reminds me of Morientes who looked lost.

Agree with that

[danperkins]

Good player.
Just not one for us.
Two good games, 1 vs 10 man Chelsea and the other vs Villa's kids.
He's joined too late in his football career.
The game is too fast and/or physical for him, he's just not got the legs for a Klopp team.
Will he improve when Van Dijk comes back (and by extension Hendo/and Fab in CM)? who knows, especially at this stage of his career. Lets not forget he's not an attacking midfielder, he played as a 6 at Bayern.
He reminds me of Morientes who looked lost.

so far sadly this does look the case. He ll get his chance next season in our proper setup to show his class but thus far he has been pretty dreadful.

[ronanm]

I think he should be dropped. He's too slow in this set up.

[danperkins]

Best performance in a LFC imo

[Buzzo]

Wrong thread

[Roboklopp]

Best performance in a LFC imo

Nah, that was vs the Bitters before he got hacked but he was very good today.

[SB]

Much better today with Fab in the No6 shirt. More of a free role although TAA seemed exposed at times, which may have been down to him.

[Tribute]

Much better today with Fab in the No6 shirt. More of a free role although TAA seemed exposed at times, which may have been down to him.

TAA exposed at times is down to TAA in fairness... his positioning play defensively is total crap.

As much as Trent was better going forward last night, he's still always way out of position for the long ball over the top down our right hand side

[Irishnev]

TAA exposed at times is down to TAA in fairness... his positioning play defensively is total crap.

As much as Trent was better going forward last night, he's still always way out of position for the long ball over the top down our right hand side

He is ‘out of position’ because he is told to play high. The issue was the ball wasn’t always sticking up top and when it broke down their CBs launched into that space for Nkunku who was supposed to be their out ball - lucky he was wasteful

[danperkins]

Trent has been targeted all season unfortunately. That diagonal over the top or looking to break down his side is a ploy used by several teams this season with much success. I suspect Wolves will try similar too.

[Fredo]

Trent has been targeted all season unfortunately. That diagonal over the top or looking to break down his side is a ploy used by several teams this season with much success. I suspect Wolves will try similar too.

It's not a problem most times. I'd love to see statistics of goals conceded from that side. Only goal I can recall is the one Mount scored and even then, we had enough bodies to stop that goal.

[danperkins]

It's not a problem most times. I'd love to see statistics of goals conceded from that side. Only goal I can recall is the one Mount scored and even then, we had enough bodies to stop that goal.

It's still a problem though, teams have been targeting him and the space beside and behind him. Just because the likes of Nkunku & Lookman in the last two games in particular haven't actually had a goal or an assist doesn't mean it is not an issue, we've just been a bit lucky.

He has never been the greatest defender but his attacking production made up for that, now he is not getting attacking numbers & has a new CB beside him in most games. It is an area that has absolutely been targeted and rightly so as it is an area that can be exposed.

[Exiled_red]

It's still a problem though, teams have been targeting him and the space beside and behind him. Just because the likes of Nkunku & Lookman in the last two games in particular haven't actually had a goal or an assist doesn't mean it is not an issue, we've just been a bit lucky.

He has never been the greatest defender but his attacking production made up for that, now he is not getting attacking numbers & has a new CB beside him in most games. It is an area that has absolutely been targeted and rightly so as it is an area that can be exposed.

It becomes less of an issue when you have midfielders in there who are willing to plug those gaps though, that's what Fabinho and Henderson have done in previous years, we haven't had that this season. Hopefully with Fab back in midfield that will be less of an issue.