Liverpool are set to be without midfielder Thiago Alcantara for Saturday’s trip to take on Manchester City.
Thiago has been injured since the 3-0 loss against Wolves on February 4th, missing Liverpool’s last eight games. Worryingly, the Liverpool Echo report that there’s still ‘uncertainty’ over exactly when he’ll be fit again.
The 31-year-old is yet to return to team training though and, as a result, is ‘unlikely’ to feature against City.
It’s claimed that Liverpool will cross their fingers that Thiago is available once again ‘later on in April.’ However, this appears to be said more in blind hope than anything else.
Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez will reportedly be ‘assessed’ prior to Saturday. Both were stuck down with issues during the international break. Luis Diaz on the other hand will supposedly be back in full training in the days leading up to the City clash.
Thiago frustrations continue
Just when Thiago appeared to be building up a head of steam this season, injury strikes again. The Spaniard was on a excellent run of availability prior to the problem he picked up against Wolves.
Having struggled to maintain his fitness since arriving from Bayern Munich in 2020, Thiago looked to have turned a corner.
Unfortunately, that now looks like another false dawn. Just like last season when he had a good run before being injured ahead of the Champions League final, the Spain international has shown that he can’t be trusted.
Obviously that’s a real shame, because he’s an ‘unbelievable’ footballer. With Liverpool returning to a little better form since his latest injury, it would have been good to see what he can do in a more stable team. Ah well.
It remains to be seen whether Thiago will be a part of Liverpool’s best midfield next season. His contract is up in 2024 and there has been no talk of an extension to it. Thankfully, rumours of a summer exit have recently been quashed, though.
Right now, the smart thing to do would probably be to have him as the fourth midfield option. If he can come in and do a job for 25 games a season firing on all cylinders, that will be more than enough. Ever since he’s arrived, there’s simply been too much work-load placed on him. Get it right in the summer and we could see a new lease of life in Thiago with the right help around him next season.