Thiago Alcantara broke his duck for Liverpool on Saturday night.
Liverpool boosted their Champions League qualification hopes with a 2-0 win over Southampton at Anfield.
And it was the £20 million signing from last summer who made the points safe in the closing minutes, passing beyond Fraser Forster from just outside the box with a beautiful, precise finish.
It was the Spain international’s first goal during what’s been a mixed first season at Liverpool for the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich maestro.
Thiago’s early months were ruined by a couple of different injuries and then a positive Covid test which set him back a couple more weeks, following some very promising early-season form on Merseyside.
Since then, Thiago has been accused of slowing down Liverpool’s attack and not doing enough defensively in midfield.
But his class was plain to see last night and Micah Richards, speaking on Sky Sports after the game, has suggested he may well burst into life next season.
He said: “I think we get too obsessed with goals and assists nowadays. Sometimes it’s just about dictating the play, slowing it down and speeding it up. And now he’s finding his rhythm. I think next season he could be bang on the money.”
Liverpool might need Thiago to be a lot better next season, too.
After all, Georginio Wijnaldum is on the brink of leaving Anfield as a free transfer and there may not be huge money available for the Reds to sign a replacement, having posted losses of almost £50 million last month.
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