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Often in times of adversity, the true leaders of a football club come to the fore. Liverpool are by no means in a crisis, but they certainly face challenging circumstances that will test their resolve.
Having lost one of their star players and most of the vocal leaders in Virgil van Dijk due to injury, the rest of the fit team will have to stand up and do their part to help fill their void. You will obviously miss his defensive quality, that goes without saying, but it is his leadership skills and his ability to help those around him that make the Dutchman an invaluable member of the team.
Without Van Dijk, Liverpool will need one of his summer transfers to show a key reason they brought him to the club. Thiago Alcântara. So far, we haven’t seen much of the Spanish international even though there was a lot of hype at the time of his signing.
Thiago has just 135 minutes under his belt in the Liverpool jersey, but almost everyone has exuded class and highlighted why Bayern Munich wanted to keep him at the club. The quality he possesses is arguably unlike any that has graced Anfield in many years, but Jürgen Klopp will need him for more than just his passing ability.
The injury problems that have cropped up in the opening weeks of the season have given Liverpool a host of problems and side effects. Fabinho has become an impromptu central defender, leaving fewer options available in midfield, especially with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remaining out of the game and Naby Keïta unable to stay in shape of late.
Liverpool need Thiago to maintain his level of fitness throughout the season, especially with players like Jordan Henderson and James Milner who also take the occasional hit from time to time. Yet even after showing an infinite amount of brilliance at Bayern, Thiago has a history of being on the sidelines. That cannot be allowed to happen this season, especially with injuries that have already occurred.
When Thiago plays, it is more common that he is not the most influential player on the team, probably on the field. You just have to look at the numbers behind their appearances to see how important they are.
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In terms of ball recoveries, Thiago has already achieved 22 in his brief appearances for Liverpool this season, averaging over 14.5 per game (via Fbref), more than any other midfielder at the club. The center of the park is often a vital area of the field where a game can be won or lost. Having someone like Thiago who is able to retain possession and keep Liverpool up front is vital in the weeks and months to come.
Thiago has also managed to complete five successful tackles, averaging 3.33 per 90 minutes. That’s more than any other player in the club, and much less in midfield. When the Spaniard plays, he not only helps keep the ball for his team, but also gets it back as soon as possible. This is an invaluable asset for Klopp, who likes to have his team press high and recover the ball in threatening areas.
Only when you explain Thiago’s stats can you see how important he is, but his value goes beyond numbers and figures. He’s a leader and Liverpool would certainly be a better team with him in the starting lineup.
Without Van Dijk on defense, constantly talking and yelling at his teammates to make sure they are doing their job well, there is a significant communication gap that needs to be fixed. Thiago may be the solution. Liverpool still have club captain Henderson who is a vocal leader in the middle of the park, but having some like Thiago who can also lead in Van Dijk’s absence is something that can only be beneficial in the future.
Having a team of leaders can be just as good, if not better, than having a team of talented stars, especially when going through times of struggle. Liverpool have a leader in Thiago, as well as a world-class player, and any match that has him involved will certainly give Klopp’s team the edge over their opponents.
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