Rio Ferdinand explains why he feels sorry for Liverpool star Thiago Alcantara

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Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara has been hampered because of the injury crisis at the club since his arrival, according to Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand. Thiago is yet to win a match he has started for Liverpool since his £27million move from Bayern Munich last summer.

Liverpool have been blighted by injuries this term, with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez both suffering serious knee problems earlier in the campaign.

Thiago himself has had fitness problems and was absent for two months with a knee injury of his own.

Ferdinand says the combination of both has led to a difficult start in England for the Spaniard.

“I feel sorry for him in a lot of respects in that he’s come into a team that has been dismantled through injuries,” Ferdinand said on BT Sport.

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“He’s having to fill in, had his own injuries as well which isn’t always good. Coming to a new club, new culture, new country – so difficult.

“No matter how experienced you are. He’s had his hands on every trophy available as a player.

“It’s difficult for him.”

Thiago has been questioned over his position in the Liverpool side in recent weeks, though kept his place for the trip to Tottenham on Wednesday.

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Former Liverpool star Dietmar Hamann claimed the 29-year-old does not suit Jurgen Klopp’s style of play.

Ferdinand says Thiago does improve the Liverpool midfield but admits he brings something different to a typical Klopp side.

“100 per cent [Thiago improves the Liverpool midfield] in certain aspects,” Ferdinand added.

“You see with the ball he’s just so easy on the eye. The game looks so easy to him. He manipulates the ball as well as anybody on the planet. His range of passing is superb.

“He brings something different in terms of creativity and being able to conduct a game.

“But then you lose something, maybe, in the physical aspect.

“Liverpool’s foundations of winning in the past two years has been that engine room in the midfield of [Jordan] Henderson, [Georginio] Wijnaldum and Fabinho. Working hard and giving it to the strikers.

“He’s that little dimension that’s slightly different that Klopp’s trying to introduce into this team.”

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