Thiago reveals Liverpool chat with Fabinho, Keita about ‘audacious’ trio making waves in pre-season

Thiago Alcantara has revealed how he, Fabinho and Naby Keita lapped up a thrilling performance from Liverpool’s next generation of midfielders on Thursday.

The Reds continued their preparations for the new season with a 5-0 thumping of Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring, but it was all about Darwin Nunez in the second half.

After Salah offered the new signing to take a penalty, he grew in confidence and ended up with four goals and the match ball.

Along the way, though, he got assists from exciting young Liverpool midfielders Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho. Meanwhile, Stefan Bajcetic – a more defensive-minded midfielder at 17 – also impressed.

Speaking to Liverpool’s official club website, Spain international Thiago revealed how he and his fellow seniors in the team loved watching the younger talents impress against their Bundesliga opponents.

“We were talking about it in the second half when we were on the bench with Fabinho and Naby,” Thiago said.

“We have added talented players in the midfield who were playing at that time, and it’s impressive how they are and how audacious they are with what they do, and also how they treat the ball and how they work as well.

“I think that’s the most important part for a young player – how they work.”

Carvalho, 19, joined Liverpool this summer and has rekindled his relationship with fellow ex-Fulham talent Elliott, also 19.

Nunez, who is also new to Jurgen Klopp’s team following his Benfica exit, has settled in well too. And Thiago has had a huge role to play in helping the Uruguayan adjust.

Thiago reveals Nunez, Liverpool help

“You start to know a new lad coming in our team,” Thiago said. “You always want that he is happy in the team, happy with us, happy and confident with himself.

“I think he turned over this first adaptation with these four goals and it’s important for him and important for us.

“At one point in our life we were the young guy in the team and someone helped us. So you use that experience to help the young players that come.

“Because of the language I try to help him as much as I can and make him part of our sessions and our team.”

Reds have exciting future

Klopp has his senior midfielders like Thiago, Keita, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson. However, Liverpool are not short of exciting future talents.

Elliott and Carvalho will look to prove themselves this season with as many first-team minutes as possible.

Curtis Jones is still only 21, but has been in the team for two full seasons now. And the fact that he is now a first-team regular can inspire Carvalho and Elliott as they look to take the same path.

There is of course talk about Liverpool potentially needing another midfield signing this summer. The lack of experience for Carvalho and Elliott may be an issue, amid the injury-prone Thiago and Keita.

But on their pre-season form, Carvalho and Elliott are proving that they have what it takes to step seamlessly into the first team.