Liverpool missing Thiago more than Salah, Mane says Graeme Souness
The Spaniard missed the Reds' 2-2 draw with Chelsea as his Covid-19 lay-off continues.
Liverpool may well be bracing themselves for up to a month without star strikers Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, but former Red Graeme Souness has insisted that Thiago Alcantara's absence is the one Jurgen Klopp should be most concerned about at present.
The Spaniard missed the Reds' 2-2 draw with Chelsea as his Covid-19 lay-off continues.
Both Mane and Salah netted inside the opening 26 minutes at Stamford Bridge as they looked to be leaving behind a parting gift of three points as they prepare to head off to the African Cup of Nations.
According to Souness, the absence of midfield maestro Thiago is a far more pressing matter.
"Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and James Milner were not at the races today," Souness told Sky Sports following the draw. "They were bossed and bullied by Chelsea’s midfield. It wasn’t the Liverpool we’re seeing of the last three, four years where they bullied teams.
"Liverpool need more of a maestro in there. They go and get Thiago, which is certainly better than what they’ve had, but doing that you lose that momentum in terms of pressing, being aggressive and always on the front foot.
"Liverpool were exposed today by the midfield not really being able to manage Chelsea’s midfield. You always felt as if Liverpool were on the back foot."
