Despite having a quiet summer compared to their competitors, Liverpool have just made one of the signings of the transfer window.
On Friday afternoon, Thiago Alcantara was finally unveiled at Anfield. A treble winner with Bayern Munich last season having helped them to triumph in the Champions League, the Bundesliga and the German Cup, Thiago arrives on Merseyside with a reputation as one of the most technically gifted midfielders in world football.
He arrives at a good time for Liverpool, as fixtures start to pile up and the collective weariness of their title-winning season bleeds over into the new campaign via a truncated summer break. While Jurgen Klopp already has an impressive selection of midfielders to choose from, Thiago’s arrival will allow him to freshen things up and, most importantly, rotate.
“Thinking about a player like him already is a joy, to be honest, because it gives us obviously some options,” said Klopp after Thiago’s transfer was announced.
“We don’t play like Bayern, so [he] still will need some time to get settled and nobody should expect – and I don’t expect – the special things immediately, first game. Let’s see.”
Klopp seemed to infer that Thiago would be available for selection against Chelsea at the weekend, saying: “I didn’t make the squad now for Sunday. We will see what we can do… if he looks alright, we will find the right place for him.”
Given that he’s only just arrived on Merseyside and hasn’t had a single training session with his new teammates, however, it seems unlikely that Klopp will throw him in at the deep end.
Here’s how Liverpool could line up at Stamford Bridge.
Defence
With all of his defenders available, Klopp looks set to go with a familiar back line.
Barring some world-ending calamity like the outbreak of nuclear war, a giant meteor strike or a hamstring tweak in the warm-up, Alisson will start in goal. Despite an unusually shaky outing against Leeds, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson will most likely start in front of him.
Midfield
Liverpool beat Chelsea home and away in the Premier League last season and, in both games, Fabinho started. While Naby Keita got the nod against Leeds, Fabinho replaced him on the 60-minute mark and won the late penalty which earned Liverpool all three points.
That could see him line up alongside Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum in the midfield. Thiago could well get a place on the bench and, if Klopp feels he’s sharp enough, a late cameo isn’t completely out of the question.
Attack
Liverpool’s front three tends to be consistent, with Klopp following a tried-and-tested formula in the Premier League.
Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are almost always Plan A and, having started together last weekend, should do so again at Stamford Bridge. Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi will give Klopp options from the bench if he decides, for whatever reason, he needs to resort to Plan B.
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