Tim Sherwood has praised Thiago Alcantara and stated he provides Liverpool with an ‘air of confidence’, as he told Premier League Productions.
The former Blackburn captain added that the 31-year-old is ‘so key’ to Liverpool and ‘crucial’ in how they manage a game.
On Tuesday night, Thiago didn’t start for the Reds as they came from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the West Midlands.
But, when the scores were level, the Spanish pass master did come off the bench to help change the tide of the game for his side.
Sherwood was full of praise for the player and how he provides that calmness for his team in the middle of the pitch.
“When Thiago came on, for me when I am looking at it as a neutral, as soon as he came on, he gives them control,” said Sherwood.
“He gives them control with that ball. All of a sudden they can pick their runs. You have Trent Alexander-Arnold running forward because they keep better possession. I think it’s so key to them.
“In his first season, it was all about settling in and perhaps he slowed the game down too much. Now he’s so crucial for them to manage football matches.
“For me, he gives them that air of confidence and knowing they will get over the line. They were going to get the job done.”
The FA Cup final now awaits Liverpool and Thiago will be expected to return to the XI.
The former Bayern Munich man is part of Jurgen Klopp’s strongest XI, along with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in the middle of the park.
But it seems as though Fabinho won’t make the FA Cup final against Chelsea, so it might just be Naby Keita stepping in for the hard-hitting Brazil international.
Either way, if Thiago gets on the ball and makes it talk at Wembley, then Liverpool’s chances of winning will increase by ten-fold.
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