Thiago has welcomed Liverpool with as much warmth as the fans have welcomed him, with the midfielder greeting players and fans after settling in at Anfield.
For those still unsure of Thiago’s importance to Liverpool, the impact he had in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Ajax – his first start since the Premier League opener at Fulham – left him Sure.
The Spaniard changed the complexion of the Reds’ midfield and allowed them to dominate the game over the course of the 90 minutes, although he still needed a late header from Joel Matip to seal victory.
After missing the previous five games, Thiago was one of the few players to walk away with any credit after coming off the bench in a 4-1 loss to Napoli, and now he is poised to resume his first-choice role.
Of course, there is no suggestion that the 31-year-old is leaving any time soon, but it is always heartwarming to hear him express his love for the club and the city.
“It’s my team,” he told TNT Sports after Tuesday’s win.
“It’s not just the players, it’s the fans. My family is here, they are already ultra fans of Liverpool.
“So, after all, we ended up becoming a family and trying to help each other.”
Thiago moved to Merseyside with his wife, Julia Vigas, and their two children following his £25m transfer from Bayern Munich, and his family is a regular on match days at Anfield.
That attachment cannot be understated when it comes to a player’s commitment to a club, with a strong contingent of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking players allowing new signings to fit in comfortably.
Darwin Nunez has experienced this following his £85m arrival from Benfica, with Thiago working closely with the striker as he familiarizes himself with a new language.
The same can be said for Luis Diaz and Fabio Carvalho, although the latter is fluent in English and has lived in the country since he was 11 years old, with the pair befriending the likes of Fabinho and Roberto Firmino.
