I watched Thiago Alcantara during the Liverpool Legends match on Saturday and it made me sad - opinion

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Thiago Alcantara ran the show on Saturday as he returned to Anfield for the Liverpool Legends match.One of the most talented players ever to pull on the red shirt, Thiago showed off every bit of his class after starting alongside Steven Gerrard in the Liverpool midfield.The pair showed what a dream partnership they could have formed in their heyday, linking up beautifully numerous times. Rate Arne Slot’s second season as Liverpool head coach Can anyone make a serious argument for higher than a C? 😶 Photo Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine Thiago should have been so much more at LiverpoolWhile the standard on Saturday was obviously much lower than a first-team match, it was still obvious from the opening moments of the match that Thiago was going to be its outstanding contributor.Within six minutes the Spaniard had scored.

Shortly later he should have had a second, but fluffed Gerrard’s brilliant through ball straight at Roman Weidenfeller.It was a vintage performance in so many ways, but how Liverpool supporters would love to have seen much more of this when it really mattered.In total, Thiago played just 98 times for the Reds across four years, featuring only once during his final 15 months with the club.Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Jurgen Klopp says nobody realised how important Liverpool player was until he left in 2021With injuries ultimately forcing him to retire aged only 33, Saturday was a sad reminder of the talent Liverpool supporters missed out on viewing.Had he been fit more often, the Reds would surely have won far more during Jurgen Klopp’s final four seasons. It could, and should, have been a much better Liverpool career for the former Barcelona man.Thiago should still be playing for LiverpoolAlthough his contract ended in 2024, and his lack of appearances meant he was never going to sign an extension, there is little question that Thiago should still be an active footballer.Given how poor Liverpool’s midfielders have been this season, Saturday’s match will no doubt reignite an argument that Thiago would walk into Arne Slot’s team right now.That is arguable, but there is certainly a debate that he could do a job as a depth option within the Liverpool squad.

Liverpool can only sign ONE England star – who gets your vote Anthony Gordon or Morgan Rogers… Photo Credit: Getty Images/Eddie Keogh/The FA/Michael Regan Saturday’s match was evidence that Thiago still has the legs to last 90 minutes, and he clearly possesses the quality which set him apart during his career.“Thiago’s unbelievable,” said goal-scorer Jay Spearing on LFCTV. He’s run the whole game.”Physicality would be an issue, as it was in his final years at Anfield, but if you could drop Thiago in for 10 or 15 matches per season, he could genuinely be the difference between a bad, good or great season for Liverpool.Supporters knew that already, of course, but as good as it was to see Thiago pulling the strings at Anfield once again, there was also plenty of sadness after being reminded of one of the great lost Liverpool careers.