THE FINAL SEASON OF THIAGO
In the summer of 2020, Liverpool acquired Thiago, and at the time, it seemed like one of their most exciting additions since joining the Premier League.
The Spaniard, who had just won the Champions League with Bayern Munich, was known for being a born winner and one of the most technically proficient midfielders of his generation.
With Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and Gini Wijnaldum so important to the Reds’ success in the previous title-winning campaign, Liverpool’s midfield had already gained a reputation for its hard work and sacrifice, but Thiago added a magical touch that strengthened Jurgen Klopp’s team even further.
The former Barcelona ace’s debut away to Chelsea whet the appetite for what was to come, as he dictated the game and sprayed passes, in all directions, and it was impossible not to get carried away.
The issue is that, given his dubious injury history throughout his career, there was always a risk involved in Liverpool acquiring Thiago.
INJURY PLAGUED SPELL AT LIVERPOOL
It was a risk, but one that was well worth taking because at that point in his career, he had never made more than 26 league starts in a single season. He was also 29 years old.
After three years, most of those worries have materialised, though it is difficult for Liverpool supporters to evaluate Thiago’s exact level of success at Anfield.
He has occasionally been a pleasure to watch when healthy, not to mention the best midfielder at the team—his masterclass against Manchester United at home in 2022 was truly remarkable—but he has been injured far too often.
Since joining Liverpool, Thiago has only managed 97 appearances across all competitions, with just 71 of those being starts.
Mo Salah has played 165 times in the same time frame to put that into perspective.
Thiago’s hip problem has kept him from playing a single minute of action this season; Klopp has claimed that the player’s persistent injury problems have frequently led to extended periods of time away from the team.
The fact that we have had to repeatedly make due with a football player of such extraordinary talent in the squad has been excruciatingly frustrating, and since his current contract expires next summer, his time at Liverpool is undoubtedly coming to an end.
A FINAL HURRAH
Can Thiago make one last grand effort and leave a lasting legacy rather than quitting with a whimper?
We shouldn’t realistically expect to see the midfield maestro again this year, as Pep Lijnders made clear earlier this week. He is still a long way from returning to the team.
But if he could return to the team for the crucial final stretch of the campaign, he might be a priceless asset. By then, though, legs might get old playing with others, and fresh energy would be required from somewhere else.
Even when he joined Liverpool, Thiago was arguably a little bit past his prime. Nevertheless, if the Reds are still in the running for the Premier League title, Thiago’s talent and competitive edge could be enormous.
Unfortunately, it seems like wishful thinking because he never seems to be able to stay in shape for extended periods of time, but wouldn’t it be wonderful to watch Thiago ride off into the sunset after capping off his time at Anfield with a Premier League or Europa League victory?
In the end, the events of the next six months may determine how we all remember him in the future.