FeatureThat half-volley, Man Utd masterclass and more memorable Thiago moments

Signed from Bayern Munich in 2020, the multi-talented midfielder is set to embark on a new chapter in his career following the end of the 2023-24 campaign, bidding farewell to the Reds having played 98 games and claimed winner’s medals in the Emirates FA Cup and FA Community Shield.

Here, we look back at five of the finest individual Thiago memories during his time at Anfield…

A scintillating debut

Thiago’s first appearance for the Reds came just two days after the announcement of his signing from Bayern.

So, having fostered hopes throughout the summer that he would be joining the club, fans were treated to a glimpse of their new No.6 quickly.

Sent on at the interval as Liverpool clashed with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Thiago provided a veritable exhibition of his passing abilities, as the visitors went on to record a 2-0 win over the 10-man hosts.

In fact, his total of 75 passes completed across one half of football was the most by any player to feature for 45 or fewer minutes in a Premier League game since 2003-04 (when full passing data is available).

A memorable introduction for the midfielder.

Opening his account at Anfield

The Spain international’s maiden campaign with the club – 2020-21 – was a challenging one for the Reds, and largely played in the absence of fans in stadiums due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Which meant when Thiago’s first goal in Liverpool colours came, in the May, it was scored without the backdrop of thousands of supporters celebrating it.

The moment nevertheless held plenty of meaning for him and was not short on quality either.

Collecting an infield pass around 20 yards from goal, Thiago dropped the shoulder past a marker, carried the ball to the ‘D’ and curled in an assured finish to wrap up a 2-0 Anfield victory over Southampton.

It was an important one, too, putting the contest beyond Saints on the night for a win that kickstarted a run of five in a row as Jürgen Klopp’s team secured Champions League qualification.

THAT strike against Porto

A moment of unforgettable brilliance.

Early in the second half of Liverpool’s Champions League tie with FC Porto in November 2021, a Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick is cleared outside the area.

It’s met by Thiago, who is fully 25 yards from the net.

He produces a sumptuous first-time half-volley, purposely sliced off his right foot. It glides just above the turf – without ever quite touching it – and whistles into the bottom right corner.

Genius.

“Just an incredible goal, obviously,” said Klopp. “Whoever sees Thiago in training knows he has the technique to do it, but even with this technique it doesn’t happen constantly that he can fire such a thunderball.”

The effort was subsequently voted the Champions League Goal of the Tournament for 2021-22.

His masterclass against Manchester United

April 2022 was a special month to be a Liverpool supporter.

Back-to-back league victories over Manchester United and Everton at Anfield, an FA Cup semi-final defeat of Manchester City at Wembley, and the start of another Champions League semi-final.

Thiago was right in the thick of it, featuring in all nine fixtures, including seven starts.

His personal peak was surely the 4-0 triumph over United, an evening when the midfielder’s mastery of the football was on show to the world.

There were 132 touches, 108 completed passes, three chances created, three successful dribbles, seven duels won, two tackles won and two interceptions.

A maestro at work.

FA Cup joy at Wembley

Thiago was left in tears when an injury sustained during the warm-up prevented him from aiding Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final success in February 2022.

But he was able to enjoy personal redemption by featuring for the entirety of the 120 minutes when the Reds had a rematch with Chelsea in the FA Cup showpiece three months later.

Again an absorbing encounter with the Blues finished goalless and again Klopp’s men prevailed via a penalty shootout.

Thiago was the second player to step up for Liverpool from 12 yards and dispatched his kick with typical aplomb, a slight dink down the middle.

Another medal to add to his stellar collection.