Liverpool midfielder Thiago is holding back Jurgen Klopp’s system, claims Tony Cascarino.

The Lowdown: Liverpool’s midfield

Liverpool have seen barely any change to their midfield over the last few years with Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all at the Premier League side for over five years.

Despite Thiago being in his third campaign at Anfield, he’s one of the most recent recruits in midfield barring the youthful presence of Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliot.

The arrival of the Spaniard has brought a change of style and mentality to Liverpool’s engine room with the technically brilliant Thiago replacing a more energetic Georginio Wijnaldum.

The Latest: Cascarino’s comments

Speaking on talkSPORT following Liverpool’s FA Cup draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers which saw the Spaniard caught out in midfield for the opener, Cascarino said:

“My biggest problem around Liverpool is, Jurgen Klopp’s idea is flawed around Thiago.

“He’s a fabulously talented football but all the time he’s in that midfield the ball keeps going to him and yes he’s really comfortable on it and he can make things happen, he’s technically gifted and up there with the very best I’ve seen but I just think it affects Liverpool’s style completely.

“Liverpool are playing a style I believe is flawed with Thiago in there, I think he just changes the whole way that Liverpool managed the midfield before.”

“You’ve got to have a ball winner, Kalvin Phillips done it at Leeds, Kante missing at Chelsea and look what’s happened, they can’t do the same things at Chelsea, Casemiro came into Man United and completely changes the dynamic.”

The Verdict: Midfield needs investing

Thiago is an exceptionally gifted footballer with him making the game look effortless at times, but if he’s to work in Liverpool’s midfield he’ll need more support around him.

Former Reds midfielder Didi Hamann previously ripped into the 31-year-old on his Sky Sports Germany column, dubbing him “overrated”, Thiago’s qualities are clear but he’s yet to convince everyone he belongs there.

With Jurgen Klopp’s side notoriously high-tempo and energetic pressers it’s just not something that suits Thiago’s game with him excelling when dominating the tempo of games.

A signing like Jude Bellingham who can add fresh legs in the middle alongside him would free up the Spaniard to focus more on creating attacks rather than breaking them up, a return to form from Fabinho would also release the burden on Thiago.