Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder lauded Thiago Alcantara’s performance for Liverpool last night in the Reds’ 2-1 win against Ajax, with the Dutch coach naming the midfielder as a key reason why the Anfield side will win their UEFA Champions League group.
Speaking to the press via the Liverpool Echo, the Eredivise boss was full of praise for Thiago after the midfielder’s Man of the Match performance for Liverpool against Ajax, with the Spaniard pulling all the strings and running the entire game through his creative quality in what was a fantastic display for Liverpool.
Thiago was making his first start for Liverpool since returning from injury, and the £25m signing from Bayern Munich showed how much Jurgen Klopp’s side have missed him with a dominant midfield display that was too much for Ajax to handle as Joel Matip’s late-winner sealed the three points for the hosts.
After losing the final last year to Real Madrid, Liverpool will be keen to win the Champions League this season after coming so close last season, and Ajax’s manager Schreuder believes that Thiago will be a big reason for Liverpool going down this path, with the midfielder a big part of the club’s system going forward.
Indeed, the 31-year-old was at the top of his game for Liverpool last night, and it’s no wonder why the Ajax manager has tipped the Reds to win their group if Thiago can maintain both his fitness and more performances like we saw at Anfield this week against Schreuder’s in-form squad.
Schreuder said on Thiago’s performance against Ajax last night in the Champions League: “Thiago was an extra weapon on the midfield and he could switch the play. It’s a top team. It’s not for nothing they are the favourites in this group.”
Thiago’s Ajax performance will spur Liverpool to improve in the coming weeks
Thiago on his day is one of the best midfielders in world football, and last night showed just that as the former FC Barcelona superstar controlled the game for Liverpool and dominated Ajax with his masterclass performance, and it is displays like that that can inspire an entire team to lift their game up.
After all, Liverpool have been well-below par this season, with their 4-1 loss to Napoli one of their worst in Klopp’s entire reign at Anfield, yet winning against Ajax was the perfect response to this defeat, and Thiago’s form and fitness will be key if the Reds’ are to get out of this rut they still find themselves in.
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