BBC pundit says he ‘fully expects’ Liverpool man to make first start against Arsenal

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Stephen Warnock has told BBC Radio 5 Live (24/09/20 at 19:10 pm) that he ‘fully expects’ Thiago to be handed his first start when Liverpool take on Arsenal in the Premier League on Monday night.

Thiago made his debut off the bench for Liverpool during their 2-0 win over Chelsea last Sunday and he could be in line to start at Anfield.

The Spanish playmaker wasn’t part of the Liverpool squad that thrashed Lincoln in the League Cup last night even though it could have perhaps been an ideal match for him to put some useful minutes under his belt.

Liverpool were beaten by Arsenal when football restarted last season, and under Mikel Arteta, the London club are looking like a different animal, but with Thiago in midfield, Warnock expects the champions to be unpredictable.

“Yes, I do [expect him to start v Arsenal],” Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I think his performance the other night showed what he is capable of doing.

“The vision. Controlling the game. Yes, Chelsea were down to 10 men. But the way he played the game, at his tempo and dictated the speed in which Liverpool attacked and defended. I think it showed the versatility that he’s going to bring to this Liverpool team.

“You’re going to get a midfield that’s not predictable. You are going to get a variation in that midfield and that’s what Thiago is going to bring and I fully expect him to start against Arsenal.”

Liverpool’s workman-like midfield doesn’t necessarily need a makeover, it just needs polishing with some magic and Thiago will be hoping to provide that.

Those who would have been uncertain of Arteta when he was first appointed Arsenal boss back in the winter, will now be thinking otherwise.

He has been shrewd and near-on accurate from a tactical sense, but it will be interesting to see how he sets up if Klopp decides to start Thiago.