Dietmar Hamann admits he was ‘surprised’ to see Jurgen Klopp leave Thiago Alcantara out of the starting XI for Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid, speaking to talkSPORT (15 April, 9am).
It says a lot about the way things have gone for Thiago during his debut season in England that, ahead of perhaps the biggest game of Liverpool’s season, the £27 million star was sandwiched between Ben Davies, Xherdan Shaqiri and Kostas Tsimikas on Anfield bench.
Despite a mesmeric performance in the recent 3-0 thrashing of Arsenal, Thiago has been left out during each of the last three matches – including both legs of the last-eight tie with Zinedine Zidane’s Madrid.
35-year-old James Milner even started ahead of the treble-winning Spain international on Wednesday.
And Hamann, the former Liverpool hero, believes that Thiago was left on the sidelines because of Jurgen Klopp’s desire to put as much ‘physicality’ as possible on the pitch.
“Yes, I was,” Hamann said when asked if he was surprised to see Thiago omitted.
“I think it’s partly to do with (Klopp) thinking he needed a midfield with a bit of physicality and steel because he’s got two pretty inexperienced centre-backs at this level.”
Hamman, who has implored his former employers to scour the market for a midfield reinforcements, was also left shocked by Diogo Jota’s absence from the starting XI against Real Madrid.
“I expected both of them to start. I think Jota, when he came on, you saw what he can do. He can create chances out of nothing. Firmino has been off-colour for a long time now,” the ex-Germany international adds.
“We certainly need two or three signings. Milner is 35 now. Naby Keita hasn’t really come to the party. There’s still a lot of question marks about Thiago and, if (Gini) Wijnaldum goes, then I think we need to sign at least two players in the centre of midfield.”
A 0-0 draw at Anfield means Liverpool will not be adding a seventh European crown to their CV’s this year.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
