Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has enjoyed a swipe at Thiago Alcantara's critics after his recent form.

The Spain international has been in brilliant form in the last couple of weeks, with his impressive performance in the first half of last weekend's FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City followed by a masterclass against Manchester United in midweek.

"People were questioning if he suits our football? Thank God these people don't make decisions," Klopp said.

"If a player is calming a game down in moments due to a lot of reasons - one of them is just to have a look, or whatever - it is of course nothing we thought (was wrong).

"It is more important Thiago wanted to join us and he knew how we played. He is a real football person and thinks a lot about football. He knew how we played and he knew he would fit in and we knew it as well."

Liverpool hero Didi Hamann was last year critical of the Spaniard and said his style of play did not match how the Reds wanted to perform.

He said: "He slows things down and doesn't really play the way Liverpool play."

Klopp also said, "It is always about being fit and staying fit and getting used to the slight differences to his former club, whatever these things are in different teams.

"Thiago had only one problem, he was injured and it started with an Everton game, to be honest. That didn't help. It was never a question if he would suit us. We only signed him because we knew he would help us."