It was an 'easy decision' to join Liverpool: Ex Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara

Thiago Alcantara has admitted it was an 'easy decision' to sign for Liverpool when he left Bayern Munich last summer and that he is 'very happy' on Merseyside.

The Spaniard arrived at Anfield for £25million in September, just months after playing a crucial role in Bayern's Champions League win.

His start to life in the Premier League was halted by a knee injury sustained in October's Merseyside derby and a positive coronavirus test but the midfielder has gradually shown signs of progress under Jurgen Klopp in recent months.

Thiago is now fully fit and is currently with Luis Enrique's Spain squad for their World Cup qualifiers this month.

In an interview with Spanish newspaper AS, the former Barcelona midfielder reveals he had offers to return to his homeland last summer but was always focused on a switch to England.

He said: 'I had options to return (to Spain), but it was clear to me. Leaving Bayern was to be able to live the experience of the Premier League, a very competitive league.

'When I got the call from the coach (Jurgen Klopp) and the club, it was an easy decision to choose the destination.

'But it was difficult to choose if I really wanted to leave Bayern. In the end it happened and I am very happy.

'It is a change of country, club, stadium and you have the expectation not only of seeing the fans in the stadium, and it will be beautiful to see Anfield full, but also the experience of learning day by day about this new country.'

Thiago's first season at Anfield has not been what he wanted. Liverpool's awful defence of their Premier League title has seen Manchester City run away with the lead and the Reds left to make up ground in the race for a top-four finish.

But the Champions League has offered some respite from their awful league form and Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals thanks to a comfortable win over RB Leipzig.

Klopp's side, who have reached two of the last three Champions League finals, drew Real Madrid in the last eight and Thiago is looking forward to coming up against Spain team-mate Sergio Ramos.

He added: 'It's great to play with Sergio. The years go by and you keep learning from him, he keeps evolving, he still wants to compete, his main feature is this ambition, this struggle.

'He passes it on to us in the national team and we can learn from a guy who with so much success and with so much recognition in football still wants more. I love having Sergio in the national team as a partner and when we are rivals, then he will be my rival.

'We have received the match (against Real Madrid) with all the respect in the world, with respect for a knockout of a Champions League quarter-final, wanting to be able to play the matches.

'It is a wonderful competition, against a fantastic team. We face Real Madrid with the respect we owe.'