'We must improve' Thiago warns teammates after United stalemate

Thiago Alcantara has issued a rallying cry to his Liverpool teammates following their goalless stalemate with Manchester United at Anfield.

Liverpool star Thiago Alcantara has urged his teammates to up their game after being held to a 0-0 draw by Manchester United on Sunday.

The Reds failed to win in the Premier League for a fourth consecutive match as they drew against their arch-rivals at Anfield.

That run has seen them lose ground at the top of the table as they seek to defend their crown.

Thiago finally made his Anfield bow on Sunday in an injury-affected debut season. The Spaniard put in a good shift but admitted that he and his team-mates must improve if they wish to defend their Premier League title.

Thiago made more interceptions (7) and completed more take-ons (5) than any other Liverpool player vs. Man Utd.

No player made more tackles (3) or created more chances (2) than the Spaniard. pic.twitter.com/ubYq2seSrj
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 17, 2021

“Without winning, we are never satisfied. We made a superb first half, then the second half was 50-50,” he said as per the club’s official website.

“We are happy in some way with our performance – how we did in some moments of the game – but we have to do much better to be on top of the league.

“We were intense, we were creating the chances that made us closer to winning. When we didn’t realise and didn’t make the goals, we’re just getting our self-confidence a bit down and that’s why the game changed a bit. At the end, it’s football and in some minutes of the game you are in high emotions and sometimes you are low – it’s part of the game.”

“At the end, we have the privilege to play football, to keep having our work, our love: that is playing football here. And we have to defend the desire of the people to be here. We have to play for them because it’s a hard moment for all of us. For sure, with fans everything is different.”

Much of Liverpool’s recent struggles has been their inability to score a goal. The Reds are still waiting to celebrate a league goal in 2021.

It's also the first time Liverpool have failed to score in three consecutive Premier League games since February-March 2005. 😬 https://t.co/Gg6NWtYDda
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 17, 2021

Thiago is confident the goals will start flowing again soon enough.

“Look at the guys we have in front – not just the big three, let’s say that,” he added.

“We have Div [Origi], we have Shaq [Xherdan Shaqiri], we have Taki [Takumi Minamino], we have many players that can score, people in the midfield that can score as well, people from the defense can score. It’s a matter of creating the chances that we are creating to be effective.”

Liverpool are back in action on Thursday when Burnley visit Anfield.