Liverpool: Thiago Alcantara believes he ‘100% made the RIGHT move’

Thiago Alcantara insists his Liverpool career is just getting started as he stated his ambition to win trophies with Jurgen Klopp.

The Spain international arrived at Anfield in September 2020 to much fanfare but his first year at the club was punctured with fitness problems, including damaged knee ligaments, that meant he was unable to show the form that made him such a big player for Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

There has been another injury this season, too, with a calf issue sustained against Crystal Palace on September 25 keeping him out for six weeks and speculation in Spain at the start of this month suggested new Barcelona head coach Xavi wanted to bring Thiago back to Camp Nou.

Thiago, though, has shown flashes when he has been fit of undisputed brilliance and his performance in Saturday’s 4-0 skewering of Arsenal suggested he is ready to become a huge influence as the campaign intensifies. He believes Liverpool’s potential going forward is untapped.

‘100% I made the right choice, the right move to come here,’ said Thiago, who will start Wednesday’s Champions League group game against Porto. ‘You never know because the injuries make you stop your frequency to play, to know much more of how your team performs on the pitch.

‘You can watch your football every time and the theory is awesome but the practice is even better. I hate that me and my team-mates got injured but it’s part of our job and part of life. When we are fit we have to have as high performances as we can.

‘I came here because I wanted to win and go away from my comfort area; to try new things and different football; I wanted to meet the team-mates I have here and (learn) Jurgen’s football. With my experience and knowledge in football, I can be better learning new things, so why not?

‘At the end, I want to win. That’s the biggest thing I have in my mind, I want to be dominant in a game. Why not here with Jurgen and these team-mates? It’s the same kind of hunger and competition and spirit as all the teams I had before.’

Returning to Barcelona would have an obvious appeal but when asked specifically if being part of Xavi’s new project appealed to him, Thiago was emphatic in stating that he had no intention of looking for an easy option anytime soon.

‘As I always have been, I am a guy who plays football,’ said Thiago, whose collection of 29 major trophies includes two Champions League medals. ‘I am not concerned about the rumours. I’m focused on the duty I have with my team and the years I have in contract with my team.

‘I just want to know about this new adventure that I have here in the Premier League and to try to win all the trophies I can. And my commitment is much more with this team. I am hoping to help the team in different ways, as the team wants and coach wants. We are trying to win as we want to win.’

Liverpool have the luxury of being qualified for the knockout phase with two games to spare and their performances so far – which included a 5-1 battering of Porto in September – have stamped them as the team to beat in this competition.

‘In more than 10 years of my career I had an opportunity to be in two finals,’ Thiago pointed out. ‘You can see that I won twice but I lost more than eight. It’s very tough to go through every stage. We just have to bring our best form. If we are in our best mood then we can achieve everything.’