Gary Neville claims one Liverpool player was so good yesterday he reminded him of Paul Scholes
Gary Neville has said on his self-titled podcast that Thiago Alcantara was so good for Liverpool against Leeds United that he reminded him of Manchester United legend Paul Scholes.
Shining example
Liverpool ran out 3-0 winners at Elland Road in a game played at a hugely fast pace.
Both Liverpool and Leeds are two of the most intense teams in the league, who love to counter attack.
It led to an open game, but Neville felt that one of the difference makers was Thiago, who had the knowhow of when to slow the game down and control it for the Reds.
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He said: “It reminded me of Scholes at Anfield, when they game was so frantic and all of a sudden there was a small guy in the middle of the pitch who just put his foot on it.
“You just thought ‘oh, there’s calm, there’s peace’.
“What Thiago did was what he was brought in to do, when it’s frantic around and everyone is sprinting around and desperate – put your foot on the ball and just play the pass which opens the game up.”
The turning point?
Thiago’s performance was one of his best in a Liverpool shirt to date.
The Spaniard’s impact at Anfield hasn’t been as vast as many predicted since he joined.
Thiago has even struggled to start for Liverpool this term, with Jurgen Klopp picking other options ahead of him.
However, the experienced midfielder showed just what a classy operator he was yesterday.
Thiago’s display was surely enough to keep him in Liverpool’s team for the time being, and it will now be up to him to cement his place in the weeks ahead.
