Pep Lijnders says he can’t wait to see Thiago Alcantara back playing for Liverpool, with the midfielder so far missing the entire season through injury.
Speaking to the press ahead of the Reds’ League Cup clash against AFC Bournemouth, the Liverpool coach lauded the quality the Spanish maestro would bring to the midfield alongside the new signings.
Lijnders said: “We have missed Thiago. I have missed him a lot. Imagine our new midfield that people are talking about and you have Thiago in the middle as well guiding. It will take time. He won’t be available.”
Liverpool overhauled their entire midfield this summer with four new signings, three of which started for Jurgen Klopp’s side on Sunday in their 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest.
Whilst Thiago is unlikely to break into Klopp’s best starting XI, there’s no denying that the former Bayern Munich star would be an exceptional player to have in the midfield.
And for the likes of youngsters Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, Thiago’s return to first-team action could be massive in their development at Liverpool.
Thiago can take on an important role with Liverpool when he returns
After this summer’s dealings, Thiago now finds himself as one of the oldest players in the squad and the most experienced midfielder in the current ranks.
And for the £25m star, this should give Thiago the confidence to present himself as a leader amongst the group and a mentor to the younger midfielders in the squad.
Indeed, Thiago’s time at Liverpool might be come to an end in 2024, but between now and the summer, the midfielder must show that he can be a teacher to those around him, which can be massive in the future.
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