New Liverpool signing Thiago Alcantara has been compared to Barcelona great Xavi after his impressive Reds debut against Chelsea.
The reigning Premier League champions won 2-0 in west London thanks to a brace from Sadio Mane with Thiago brought on for the second period.
Andreas Christensen’s red card at the end of the first half was the catalyst for Thiago’s Premier League debut, said Reds boss Jurgen Klopp after the game.
The Spain midfielder was announced as a Liverpool player on Friday afternoon, after completing a £25m switch from Bayern Munich.
Thiago completed 75 passes in 45 minutes, which is more than any of the Chelsea players did in the entire 90 minutes.
As well as that, it is the most passes completed by any player with a maximum of 45 minutes in the Premier League since records began in the 2003/04 campaign.
And speaking on Match of the Day on Sunday night, former Reds midfielder Danny Murphy believes the former Barca star will add another dimension to Klopp’s side.
He said: “It doesn’t surprise me, although he is against 10 men. He moves the ball so quickly, he doesn’t worry about players around him.
“You can get in a comfort zone against 10 men, but he just moves it. He is the nearest thing to Xavi.
Transfers, win over Chelsea and more in the latest Blood Red podcast HERE
“His awareness and quickness of passing, he will add another dimension to that Liverpool team.”
While Murphy added on Liverpool’s front three: “It was a game changer in terms of demoralising the opposition when they are already down to 10 men.
“These three always have the ability in tight games to open you up with their quality, movement, courage on the ball and the way they rotate positions.
“It’s typical Liverpool. Play free, create chances, enjoy your football and that goal (Mane’s opener) is great. That’s not the Chelsea we will see in a month or so.
"They have got players to turn that around, so it will be interesting to see how that team evolves.”
Who was your Man of the Match for Liverpool? Let us know in the comments below.
