There were few positives on the afternoon, but there was a glimmer of hope at the end of Liverpool’s disappointing spell at the Emirates.Five minutes into Sunday’s Premier League defeat by Arsenal, politicking Joe Gomez became the scapegoat as Jurgen Klopp rolled the dice one last time and introduced a player who was on the verge of becoming a forgotten man at Anfield .
Thiago Alcantara made his first appearance in nine months after suffering a groin injury nightmare. It has been exactly a year since the Spaniard last made his debut and he made just four substitutes during his quick comeback last April. Liverpool will hope that by giving Thiago the green light for surgery, it will ensure he is fit again when pre-season begins, as the season is thought to be coming to a premature end.
He is out of contract this summer and there is no indication a new deal is on the table. The 32-year-old is coming to the end of a Reds career that, while excellent at times, could finally give him a taste of what he could be. . If only more often. But Thiago is not gone yet. The midfielder could expect more action in the final four months of the season as Klopp has long struggled to call up players nearing the end of their contracts.
However, giving the Spaniards time to improve the clarity of their game may be difficult. He is not the only Liverpool player in this situation. Klopp and his coaching staff now face a juggling act of trying to bring a member of staff up to speed through long-term injuries while creating challenges on all four fronts. Of course, it was easier in the campaign.
The first rounds of the League Cup and Europa League group stages were up for grabs and, to some extent, the players had improved their fitness for the early part of the Premier League season when rotations were expected. However, Liverpool have now entered a phase of the season where they have to win every game.The danger is clear.
Trent Alexander-Arnold looked off the pace in his first start for Arsenal in a month on Sunday and might not have played if Conor Bradley had been around. Dominik Soboslay played two games before aggravating a hamstring problem.
Interestingly, Andy Robertson is yet to start a game since returning after more than three months, instead making three substitute appearances.Actually, Robertson didn’t have to do that. The same was true for Joe Gomez on the left. That in itself could be a dilemma for left-back Kostas Tsimikas, who is returning from a shoulder injury.
