LATE FOR CLASS

Thiago finally shows his quality

WITH his goal, Thiago showed the class Liverpool expected from him when he signed for the club last summer.

But the rest of his performance against Southampton was probably more of an example of his stay so far at Anfield. While at times he was impressive, he also looked out of sorts.

There were perfect passes, then there were stray balls. Some good blocks, but then his pressing failed as Saints bypassed him in midfield.

But his goal was brilliant. A touch to set himself, before curling home in the 90th minute.

Saints had their chances but Thiago’s first goal for the club eased any tension building at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp, who expects to see the best of him next season, must now find how the Spain star fits into his midfield.

The £20million signing from Bayern Munich caught Covid before a knee injury left him out for two months.

And his acclimatisation will not have been helped by fellow midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho having to fill in at centre-back in a season ravaged by injuries.

Klopp will have to tinker his style ever so slightly to get the best out of him. The Reds manager said: “We all had to work hard. So he had a lot of good situations but the most important was when he he scored that goal. I’m really pleased for him.”

Liverpool took a first-half lead through Sadio Mane when he made the most of some weak defending by Kyle Walker-Peters to head home Mo Salah’s cross. Thiago then ended any hope of Saints nicking a point to keep the Reds’ top-four hopes alive. LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson 7; Alexander-Arnold 6, Phillips 6, R Williams 6, Robertson 6; Thiago 7, Fabinho 7, Wijnaldum 7; Salah 7 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 87), Jota 6 (Firmino 79), Mane 7 (Jones 90). Goals: Mane 31, Thiago 90.

SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): Forster 7; Walker-Peters 5, Bednarek 6, Vestergaard 6, Stephens 6; Ward-Prowse 7, Armstrong 6; Walcott 5 (Diallo 66, 6), Tella 7 (Obafemi 66, 6), Redmond 7; Adams 6 (Djenepo 79).