Chelsea vs Liverpool: Frank Lampard greets ‘world class’ Thiago Alcantara with the signing of the Reds to debut

Liverpool have signed “a world-class absolute midfielder” by incorporating Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich.

That’s according to Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, whose team faces Liverpool on Sunday when they welcome them to Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool signed the Spanish midfielder on Friday, paying an initial fee of just £ 20 million to steer him away from Bayern with an additional £ 5 million in add-ons.

The deal was made in time to allow the 29-year-old to make his Liverpool debut against Chelsea this weekend.

The Blues know firsthand how devastating Thiago can be, with the Spaniard playing a key role in Bayern’s Champions League knockout overall victory over them last season, and Lampard has hailed him as one of the best midfielders in the world right now.

“Thiago is an incredible player,” Lampard said, speaking hours before Thiago’s move to Liverpool was announced on Friday.

“As you say, we saw it first hand: quality on the field, personality on and off the field.

“This week’s Hansi Flick quotes have been talking about him on both fronts and when you hear that from his manager who is so successful with him at the center of the team, I think it speaks for itself.

“He is a world-class absolute midfielder today. If he makes it to the Premier League, it will be a great advantage and a great advantage for the team he comes to ”.