10 months ago
138 Janusz Michallik has admitted that Wataru Endo has been better for Liverpool than he expected, but believes that it is Thiago Alcantara who could make all the difference in the Premier League title race.
Thiago Alcantara has become something of a forgotten man at Anfield. The Spain international has not played for the Reds this season after undergoing surgery on a hip injury.
It is probably fair to say that the 32-year-old has not lived up to expectations on Merseyside. Liverpool believe that Thiago will leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Thiago Alcantara tipped to make a huge difference in the title race for Liverpool
Of course, Thiago has won so much in the game, including the Champions League on two occasions as well as the Bundesliga and La Liga titles.
And with that, Janusz Michallik has told ESPN that he could have a huge impact on Liverpool’s title hopes this season – if Jurgen Klopp can get him back out on the pitch at some stage of the campaign.
“I don’t think they’ll get anybody that’ll immediately change the way they play [in January]. But they have a player that I think is very, very much needed positionally, and a player that I think if he can play three or four good games, those three or four good games could decide the title. And that’s Thiago Alcantara, because it’s crying out for a player like that. In that midfield, Liverpool doesn’t have it,” he said.
“Liverpool can use a distributor, a visionary, somebody that can play, change the point of attack. Endo’s not going to do that. Yeah, he’s been doing well. He can disrupt play. But he can’t play a long ball 30 yards to save his life. Aside from that Fulham goal, he’s not a player that can strike a ball from distance. Defensively-minded, fair play. And he’s done much better than I thought. But that midfield needs Thiago Alcantara.”
Wataru Endo deserves huge credit, but Spaniard’s return will be a boost
As Michallik has alluded to, Endo has silenced a lot of doubters in the last few games. There were concerns about whether he would be able to fill the void left by Fabinho, particularly after Endo was replaced at half-time at Crystal Palace.
But Endo has been superb more recently. And with the amount of attacking quality Liverpool have, some fans will be more optimistic that he can play a key role for a title-winning side.
Thiago ticks different boxes. He is capable of the most outrageous things on the football pitch. So if he can get fit and back to something like his best, there is no question that he could make a real difference.
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