Roy Keane says Liverpool star Thiago’s defending vs Arsenal was ‘terrible’

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Roy Keane has had a go at Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara for some of his ‘terrible’ defending in the Reds’ 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp’s men went into the game at the Emirates as the underdogs for the first time in years. Arsenal have been flying this season, and the Reds’ poor defending made it easy for the Gunners to take all three points from the game.

Roy Keane says Liverpool star Thiago’s defending vs Arsenal was ‘terrible’

Thiago is one of the best midfielders in the world, there’s no debate on that front.

He is excellent on the ball, his passing is elite and his vision is tremendous, but the one area of weakness in his game, if any, is his positioning off the ball at times.

That cost him and Liverpool against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, and Roy Keane, who knows a thing or two about positional play in the middle of the park, was far from impressed with the Spaniard.

He said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football yesterday: “Thiago was terrible, I think, for the first two goals.

“Midfielder’s reaction there, not great. It’s no good having all of that experience if you’re not going to use it. Some of the decision-making for all the goals from Liverpool’s point of view [was] so poor.

“It’s actually hard to believe what you’re watching there. Really, really bad position play from such experienced players.”

TBR View:

Keane is spot on about Thiago’s positioning and reaction on Sunday, but the Spaniard wasn’t the only one at fault.

Trent Alexander Arnold should’ve done a lot better for the first and second goals, as did Jordan Henderson, who was completely taken out of the game by Gabriel Martinelli just before half-time.

Thiago, who joined the Reds from Bayern Munich for £20 million in 2020 (Sky Sports), was at fault for the controversial penalty, and that cost Liverpool the game.

It really is hard to believe that Liverpool, who have been so good at the back over the last three or four years, are so bad now. Something has to change ASAP, and experienced players like Thiago need to step up.