Paul Scholes has admitted he was surprised that Liverpool signed Thiago Alcantara in the summer, arguing the midfielder is better suited to a side like Manchester United.
There was plenty of excitement over how Thiago may fit in at Anfield after an impressive seven years at Bayern Munich, but he has so far failed to hit the same heights, with his ability to press teams in the style Jurgen Klopp demands called into question.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Scholes said he felt Thiago would fit in well at a side like United, who would be able to utilise him as a holding midfielder.
He said: "The way Liverpool play with the three in midfield, I don’t think he has great legs about him, so that central role would suit him down to the ground.
"Once you are in a wider position in the three, it’s very difficult to get around the pitch because he’s not that type of player.
"He’s not someone who is going to be running out to a left-back. It’s just not his game. He just needs to be sat in the middle.
"Controlling things, bringing players into play and that’s what he’s good at – I just wonder if this way of playing that Liverpool play is suited to his style of football.
"He doesn’t seem a Jurgen Klopp type player, does he? You think of the midfield players he has got and the forward players. Everything is 100 miles per hour.
"I thought he would have been more suited to a Manchester United team. In a two in midfield with a holding player, really good strong defensive player, where he can sit and control games.
"Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool, I don’t see them controlling games. I see them going for the throat in teams. He hasn’t got that energy to really overpower midfield players."
