Michael Owen says Liverpool star has ‘more talent in his little finger’ than other Reds players in his position

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Liverpool star Thiago Alcantara has been lauded by Reds legend Michael Owen, who believes the Spaniard has “more talent in his little finger” than Anfield’s other midfielders.

However, Owen also questioned whether Thiago is the right fit for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

The 29-year-old joined Liverpool to much fanfare last September, arriving from Bayern Munich in a £25million deal.

His early days at Anfield didn’t quite go to plan as he made just two appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side before Christmas due to either injury or illness.

Thiago was eased back into action in Liverpool’s last game of 2020, getting 17 minutes off the bench in the goalless draw with Newcastle.

Since then, he has featured regularly, but despite his quality on the ball, some believe he upsets the high-intensity style of play championed by Jurgen Klopp.

Speaking on Premier League Productions following Liverpool’s win over Sheffield United, Paul Scholes said he felt Thiago would fit in well at a side like Manchester United, who would be able to utilise him as a holding midfielder.

And Owen added: “He has come in at the worst time. He is struggling like the rest of the team, it is not his fault.

“He is a central midfield player, playing wider you need more legs, but if you put him in the central area that goes against what Liverpool have based their success on over the years.

“You can get away with it against the lesser teams where you have loads of possession, pulling the strings, but if I had a Champions League final tomorrow, my whole squad was fit, (he doesn’t play).

“He has got more talent in his little finger than virtually every midfielder in that team, he is one of the most talented in the world, yet we’re saying if it was a big game tomorrow would you play him?

“The general answer is you probably go with Henderson, Fabinho and Wijnaldum because you know that system works.”

TBR View:

Thiago is a player of the highest calibre and a great acquisition for Liverpool, but obviously with so many injuries, Klopp has had to chop and change.

The former Bayern man has been deployed in a more defensive role, which may have not been the case with a fully-fit Liverpool squad.

It really is way too early to write a player off in terms of his suitability for the team.