Former England manager Glenn Hoddle has claimed that when Fabinho can return to midfield, he will help to unlock Thiago’s potential.
Currently, Jurgen Klopp’s backline looks fairly depleted due to injuries to senior centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez (as per Transfermarkt).
Due to their injury issues, Fabinho has played 13 of his 17 total appearances in the Premier League so far this season as a central defender.
Aside from the Reds’ issues in defence, Thiago has made eight appearances for Klopp’s side in all competitions this term, in which he has neither scored nor assisted a goal.
During the latest episode of The Glenn Hoddle Footy Show, the retired manager explained his belief that when Fabinho returns to midfield, he will help unlock Thiago. (5:33)
He said: “Well, you mark my words, I think at the moment, the balance isn’t quite right in there.
“When Fabinho can go into that midfield, [when] they’ve got the centre-backs worked out, [which lets] Thiago play as an eight and create, that midfield will get even better – believe me.
“There’s a lot more to come from that. When that will happen is the big question for Liverpool fans and Klopp.
“[Thiago’s] such a wonderful footballer – he really is but he’s not 100% fit yet. He’s got to get a little bit more match sharpness and the games are coming quick and fast, aren’t they? In the Premier League.”
TIF Thoughts on what Glenn Hoddle said about Fabinho and Thiago…
As can be seen in what the former England manager had to say, he believes that Liverpool’s Spanish midfielder will “get even better” when he is properly supported by Fabinho.
Have you been impressed with Thiago since he signed for Liverpool?
No, he's not that good
Yes, he's a class player
While the former Bayern Munich man has not scored or assisted in the league for Liverpool, he has earned a solid 7.06/10 average rating over his six outings (per WhoScored).
That has made the 29-year-old middleman the sixth-best performer in the Reds’ squad, so, Hoddle’s claim that he could get even better is seemingly an exciting one.