Thiago Alcantara has needed to be Liverpool’s locksmith for this final push for the top four

It was at Stamford Bridge in September, with Chelsea down to 10 men, that Jurgen Klopp gave Thiago Alcantara his first taste of English football. The task that day? Conduct the onslaught.

Over the next 45 minutes, Liverpool set up camp outside the Chelsea box, coasting their way to a 2-0 victory as their £20million signing completed 75 passes – more than anyone else since records began.

It would prove decent practice for this final push. Against West Brom, and for long periods at Burnley, Thiago has needed to be Liverpool’s locksmith. Always looking forward when others go sideways. Always ready to take a risk when pressure tempts team-mates to pass the buck.

Thiago Alcantara has needed to be Liverpool’s locksmith during their late push for the top four

Under Klopp, Liverpool’s midfielders have been tireless facilitators to a front three who sparkle their season with stardust. Thiago has bought to add new colour and craft to this side. He has begun to hit his stride in the nick of time.

During Liverpool’s late push for Champions League football, his class has begun to shine through; the omens for next season and beyond are very promising indeed.

Since that comfortable debut, it has been a tricky first season for the 30-year-old. Injury and perpetual change around him have stunted his impact.

’Yes, he is a world-class football player but he came (during) a pandemic,’ Klopp said this week. 

‘Arrived here, got injured and had to restart again with a team that was not settled. That’s massive, that’s nearly impossible. What he did in these moments is absolutely incredible.’

Performing in the nick of time, Thiago showed plenty more flashes of brilliance against Burnley

At Turf Moor there were plenty more flashes of brilliance.

He had 59 touches in the first half – comfortably the most on the pitch. One stood out above the rest.

On the half hour, with the ball dropping towards the touchline and Dwight McNeil at his back, Thiago hooked the ball down the line and collected it in space. All with chalk on his boots.

Even before then, he regularly injected life into sleepy, sideways passing moves with that trademark shuffle, those no-look passes and a fearless determination to find tiny cracks in Burnley’s banks of four.

Thiago injected life into sleepy moves and has added craft and colour to this Liverpool team

The only frustration? He should have had a goal of his own. On 29 minutes, he brilliantly cushioned Roberto Firmino’s pass to Mo Salah, continued his run, collected the return, only to drag the ball wide.

It didn’t matter and after Liverpool moved 2-0 in front, who better to kill another game?

‘We are not even halfway there, Thiago is not halfway there,’ Klopp warned. Maybe not. But he’s certainly motoring now.