Liverpool midfielder Thiago has placed Jordan Henderson among the best midfielders he has played with in his career in a recent tribute to the Liverpool captain.
He revealed that he felt Henderson was 'one of the best midfielders I've played with in my life', having spent two seasons with the Englishman.
“Henderson brings to us this intensity that the team needs at some points of the game. He’s intense the whole game. He’s one of the best midfield players I’ve played with in my life”, the Spaniard explained.
Having spent time at Barcelona and with Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola, as well as winning 46 caps for the Spanish national team, Thiago knows a thing or two about midfielders.
Who does Henderson rank with?
When casting a glance at the players that Thiago has played alongside, the regard in which he holds Henderson becomes even more apparent.
During his time with Barcelona, the Spaniard was surrounded by quality options in midfield, including Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Cesc Fabregas.
Meanwhile, following his switch to Bayern Munich, Thiago was once again within a cadre of top quality midfielders, including German trio Phillip Lahm, Bastien Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos, while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, now of Tottenham, was also present, so too was veteran Spaniard Xabi Alonso.
In the national team too, he has been surrounded by world-class options. The likes of David Silva, Juan Mata, Koke and Isco have all been deployed next to Thiago.
Henderson's most important season?
On the back of the failed hunt for the quadruple, midfield is one area that Liverpool are not strengthening this summer, with reports suggesting that they are happy to wait until 2023 in order to add to their options in the centre of the park.
This will place added onus on Henderson, now 32-years-old, to once again play a crucial role in any title aspirations that Jurgen Klopp's side have.