Pundit says £200k-a-week Liverpool star would be better suited to Manchester City

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Liverpool have struggled to hit the heights of last season and one big name has been singled out for criticism

Thiago has been accused of holding Liverpool back as they struggle to recapture their form from last season.

The 29-year-old arrived with a massive reputation in September 2020, but has failed to set the Premier League alight.

Despite having made only four league appearances so far, his suitability for Jurgen Klopp’s side is already being questioned by pundit Jamie O’Hara.

Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Tottenham and Wolves man suggested Thiago would in fact be a better fit for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side.

He said: “They’ve been playing at such a high level for two seasons now with the same team.

“When I just watch them a little bit now, I watched (Mo) Salah against Man United, I know Luke Shaw’s in fantastic form, but there were a few times when he got the ball and I’m thinking ‘Go past him’ or ‘Get inside, get a shot off’ and he’s turning out, he’s going back.

“It looks like all of a sudden they’ve just run out a little bit of legs in the final third.

“And as much as I love Thiago, I think he’s fantastic, brilliant to watch, he just slows it down for them.

“When Fabinho plays in midfield and (Jordan) Henderson plays in midfield, they have an energy and they have an edge.

“Fabinho breaks it up and he gives it, he goes ‘Bang, there you go Salah, there you go Mane’.

“I think that’s what’s made Liverpool so great, especially over the last couple of seasons, is their energy and their relentlessness to just keep going.

“When they win it back they go ‘Bang’ and they’re at you again, and then they give it away and then they go again.

“Now all of a sudden I’m watching them and I’m thinking Thiago’s getting the ball and he’s brilliant and he’s moving it like Man City.

“I think he’d be perfect for Man City’s side, but in Liverpool’s team I just look at it and go it just slows it up a bit, he wants to get on it, he wants to have 150 touches a game.

“Thiago slows it down too much for me.”

The Spanish midfielder was brought to Anfield from Bayern Munich in a deal initially worth £20m, with the potential for a further £5m in add-ons. According to the Athletic, Thiago is earning £200,000 per week at the champions.