Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara was spotted training away from the main group during yesterday’s session.
As per the Liverpool Echo, Thiago underwent an individual session as his teammates prepared to face Everton on Monday.
The 31-year-old was reportedly working on a ‘tailored regime’ ahead of the Merseyside Derby. It’s claimed that Thiago is ‘expected’ to re-join the main group later in the week.
All good then, by the sounds of it. But still a worry to have one of our most important players sitting out to any extent.
Time for Thiago to take a break
Some would argue that it’s high time that Thiago was taken out of this Liverpool team. The Spain international has been a mainstay in the Reds side that have been so poor of late.
Despite that, Thiago has escaped too much rough treatment. There have been the usual murmurings that he doesn’t quite fit the way Liverpool are trying to play, and even one suggestion that he’s no longer playing for Jurgen Klopp.
But by and large, the former Barcelona man has been immune to the lambastings that some of his midfield teammates have received.
In a way that’s fair enough. Thiago is usually still Liverpool’s best midfielder in any individual game. As Paul Merson pointed out earlier this season, he’s an ‘unbelievable’ footballer.
Nevertheless, it isn’t as though he’s been running the show while his colleagues fail around him. He too has been guilty of some sloppy play. Possessing the quality that he does, it’s fair to expect a little more from Thiago.
So, perhaps a game or two out of the line-up could benefit both Liverpool and the player himself.
Thiago will be turning thirty-two in April and has had his injury problems over the years. Having now started the last 11 games for Liverpool, he’s maybe due a little rest from the team.
The problem of course is who do you then bring in? A midfield of Stefan Bajcetic, Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita would appear the most likely. That isn’t the most inspiring, though. It may not come to that anyway, as it sounds like Thiago should be fine. Let’s see what the rest of the week brings.