Jurgen Klopp has dismissed as “rubbish” suggestions Thiago Alcantara has been a reason for Liverpool’s poor form this year.
Thiago was one of several impressive performers as the Reds earned a 2-0 Champions League round of 16 second leg win over RB Leipzig in Budapest to progress 4-0 on aggregate on Wednesday.
The Reds had lost six of their previous eight games with this only a sixth win since the Spaniard – who arrived from Bayern Munich in September – returned from injury in late December.
Thiago prospered in a reshaped midfield in which Fabinho’s switch to his usual defensive midfield role was influential.
And when asked by a German reporter about the midfielder, Klopp said: “Thiago was good, they were all good.
"When Naby (Keita) came on that was also good and it was helpful.
“I assume when you all look at Liverpool from Germany, people say it's (the problems) to do with Thiago or whatever – that's rubbish.
“For the players who were new, they always needed time to get used to our gameplan but Thiago doesn't have that.
“But he improves week on week. It is not a short-term project, it is a long-term project and it was good.
“It is very fluid how we work together, the boys played some nice passes and Thiago had a great chance as well, I think he could have had a shot on goal but instead passed.”
