Liverpool star Thiago praised for crucial impact on Trent Alexander-Arnold

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jermaine Jenas believes Thiago Alcantara has added a "different dimension" to Liverpool.

The Spanish playmaker impressed yet again, as Liverpool breezed to a 3-1 home victory against Newcastle United.

Question marks regarding his future at Anfield were raised, after youngster Harvey Elliott appeared to have displaced him in the opening matches of this Premier League season.

However, his meticulous passing, composure, and impressive work of the ball has seen him really come into his own under Klopp recently.

And Jenas believes the Spanish international has been exceptional in recent weeks, claiming he has expanded the Reds' attacking opportunities.

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"Teams want to press Liverpool at times, but the majority of the time they'll sit off, so those balls will make teams go back and create space," Jenas said while analysing Thiago on BT Sport.

"He's added a different dimension to this Liverpool team.

"They've had passers in there before, but not like this.

"They've usually always depended much more on Trent Alexander-Arnold or Virgil van Dijk at the back.

"They can do it from the centre of the pitch with this guy now."

The victory over Eddie Howe's side was the sixth consecutive match Klopp had deployed the 30-year-old in the starting eleven.

Having failed to start in Liverpool's first three matches against Norwich City, Burnley, and Chelsea, Thiago has started in all but one Premier League match he has been available for.

A frustrating calf injury side-lined him between September 25 and October 30, which saw him miss Liverpool's high scoring draws against Brentford, Manchester City, and Brighton and Hove Albion, as well as the 5-0 demolitions against Watford and Manchester United.

Aside from the ruthless displays against Claudio Ranieri's side and United, Liverpool struggled to gain control of the ball in the three draws he was absent.

However, Thiago's industrious and efficient work from the heart of the midfield has significantly improved their possession game.

He appears to have become the player Liverpool hoped they were signing, when they signed him form Bayern Munich for £25m.

Unfortunately, injuries and a rough time with the Coronavirus hampered his debut season with the Reds.

And while many were doubting the silky midfielder at the start of the new season, Klopp came to the defence of the two-time Champions League winner.

"Much more, because the start was not perfect," Klopp said to the official Liverpool website when asked what to expect from the Spaniard this season.

"He came here, got COVID, got injured early and stuff like this. That, of course, makes things more difficult but he showed what kind of player he can be for us and will be for us.

"So, there's a lot more to come, of course. Maybe it's now a year but if you want it's actually only half a year because of all the things that happened around.

Thiago was a starring presence once more, as Liverpool cruised to a sixth consecutive Premier League victory against Newcastle.

The visitors surprisingly took the lead at Anfield courtesy of a wonderful strike from former Red, Jonjo Shelvey.

However, Liverpool regained their composure and went on to quickly regain the lead courtesy of goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah, before Trent Alexander-Arnold added an extra gloss, with a world class strike in the second half.