Who will play a key role for Bayern Munich against Liverpool?

Thiago Alcantara

Finally, we return back to midfield, where one man in particular stands out as the backbone of this Bayern side. Thiago Alcantara has a strong argument for being Die Roten‘s best player this season, and there are some huge expectations on him to show his worth against Jurgen Klopp’s side tomorrow.

For the past few seasons, the Spaniard has been among the best midfielders in Europe. However, there has always been one criticism to his game. Many of Thiago’s naysayers would argue the former Barcelona man fails to perform in big matches. Perhaps it can be put a bit better by saying he fails to excel in big matches. He shows up and does a decent job, but he doesn’t leave a lasting mark on the game.

Whether the criticism is justified or not is an argument that can be saved for another day. What’s indisputable, though, is that Thiago will play a key role for Bayern Munich against Liverpool tomorrow.

The Spain international has made himself Niko Kovac’s absolute first choice in midfield. An incredibly versatile player, Thiago is often deployed in a deeper role by the Croatian. This allows him to dictate the tempo of the match, while also letting him show off his underrated defensive ability. Both traits will be necessary for Bayern against Liverpool.

Thiago is almost certain to partner Javi Martinez in a midfield double pivot, with James Rodriguez most likely playing just ahead of them as a number 10. With Javi beside/behind him and James ahead of him, Thiago will have all the freedom he desires to position himself where he sees fit in midfield. But this also means he’ll be expected to contribute both offensively and defensively, almost like an elegant box-to-box midfielder.

His passing range and vision will be key whether he pushed further up the pitch or sitting a bit back, and the same can be said of his defensive work. There are few better midfielders in possession (Thiago has the highest dribbling success rate in Germany and completes the sixth most dribbles per game), and his ability to hold on to the ball under pressure will be as important against Liverpool’s intense press than any of his other attributes.

The same can be said of his own ability to quickly break up the other team’s attacks, which is second to none (this video from the Bundesliga’s YouTube channel details that quite nicely).

Like the other two players previously mentioned, Thiago has a big opportunity ahead of him tomorrow. There are some weighty expectations on his shoulders from both Niko Kovac and the Bayern fans. The Spaniard has already been key for the Bavarians in everything positive they’ve achieved this season. Expect nothing less against Liverpool.