‘I’ve said all along’: TalkSPORT pundit absolutely loves £20m Liverpool man, but thinks he’s bad for the team

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Liverpool play Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League today knowing how important a win would be today.

Jurgen Klopp’s side currently find themselves eight points off the top four after a tricky start to the season.

Speaking on TalkSPORT (6/11 8:53am), Tony Cascarino was talking about Liverpool’s midfield.

Cascarino spoke about Klopp’s conundrum in trying to pick the right balance of players in the middle of the park.

Klopp has had to deal with a number of injuries this season, and the disappointing form of players like Fabinho.

However, Cascarino admitted he absolutely loves watching midfielder Thiago Alcantara.

Although he thinks his inclusion in the team comes at a cost to the balance of Liverpool’s midfield.

The £20m midfielder is a classy operator, and always stands out at Anfield.

His Liverpool career has unfortunately been heavily affected by injuries, and he’s already missed six matches this season with fitness issues.

Thiago disrupts Liverpool’s midfield balance

Speaking on TalkSPORT about the Spanish midfielder, Cascarino said: “I’ve said all along that midfield is the area that needs to be reignited, it’s got to come with energy and ball winners.

“I love Thiago as a footballer, he’s got things that I could never have even dreamt of having as a footballer technically.

“He’s a brilliant player to get on the ball and find passes.

“But that’s come at a price as Liverpool were very good at winning the ball back, and protecting their back four.

“They’ve not done that at all this year.”

Liverpool look like a poorer defensive unit this season than in previous years.

The Reds have only conceded more than one goal in the league this season when Thiago hasn’t played.

However, on four occasions Liverpool have let in two or more goals when the Spaniard has played this season.

It would be unfair to pin this completely on Thiago, and the argument that he disrupts the balance of Liverpool’s midfield feels harsh.

Klopp’s side have played some of their best football with Thiago in the team over the past two seasons.

Thiago’s effort off-the-ball has been questioned at times this season, and he was caught out against Arsenal for not tracking back properly.

With Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, there’s less of a need for Thiago to put in such a defensive shift.

However, when he’s on his game, he’s essential to Liverpool causing opposition defences problems in the final third.