Liverpool made a headline-grabbing acquisition in the summer.

While their biggest signing was Diogo Jota from Wolves, perhaps the most important signing was Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich.

This is a genuinely world-class midfield player who is incredibly decorated, and has enjoyed a phenomenal career.

He has won La Liga twice with Barcelona, along with the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup, while he won seven Bundesliga titles at Bayern Munich, and again won both the Champions League and the Club World Cup at Bayern, along with four DFB-Pokals and three DFL Supercups.

He comes in to strengthen a midfield that is perhaps more workmanlike than creative but Thiago is a top player and, while he has been limited to one appearance, because of a positive COVID-19 test, excitement is high at Anfield.

And former Reds star Luis Enrique insists that Thiago could fill the gap left by Philippe Coutinho, who moved to Barca back in 2018.

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Speaking to the Daily Mail, the former left-back, who spent five years at Anfield, he said: “He’s a phenomenal player. He’s a top midfielder but he’s also a magician in the way that [Philippe] Coutinho was.

“I can see him alongside Jordan Henderson and Fabinho in midfield, and giving the team something they didn’t have before.”

“And it says a lot about where the club is right now that someone who is an important player at Bayern Munich wants to come and play for Liverpool.”

GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…

Thiago is the answer to a long-running Liverpool question.

They have been trying to replace Coutinho for three years but now they have a Spaniard who is arguably just as good.

Admittedly, this is not a player who scores the kind of spectacular goals that Coutinho could nail, but he is elite, capable of splitting defences in the blink of an eye with superb through balls and he is also exceptional at carrying the ball.

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Enrique, clearly, is excited about the addition of the 29-year-old and, really, he has every right to be.

Liverpool return to action this weekend against Everton, and fans all over Merseyside will be hoping to see just how good Thiago can be.