Thiago Alcantara sustained a muscle issue on his return to action against Arsenal on February 3 and Jurgen Klopp has admitted he is unsure if the midfielder will feature again this season.
Jurgen Klopp has revealed he doesn’t know if Thiago Alcantara will play for Liverpool again.
The 32-year-old has endured a hugely frustrating season having made his first appearance in 10 months as a second-half substitute against Arsenal earlier this month. However, Thiago sustained a muscle problem in that game, with Klopp initially confident that it wasn’t a “big injury”.
It appears the outlook is more negative, though. There is no timescale on the problem but Klopp is fearful that Thiago, who is out of contract in the summer, may not feature in a Reds shirt this season. The Spaniard injured his hip last April and has sustained an issue in the same region.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Southampton on Wednesday, Klopp said: “I don’t know, to be honest (if he will play again this season).
“It’s a couple of things but what he has to do now from a medical point of view and I don’t know if it will mean again if he can play again. It’s not a short-term thing and that’s why I’m not 100 per cent in it. I’m not sure if it’s the same but the region is the same.”
Thiago joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich in 2020 but has since struggled to stay fit on a regular basis. The midfielder has made just 98 appearances for the Reds in three-and-a-half seasons and could be entering the final couple of months of his career on Merseyside.
Liverpool have been handed a timely injury boost, though, after Klopp confirmed that Stefan Bajcetic is no longer in pain and back in training. The 19-year-old, who starred for the Reds last season, has been out since September but could be set for a return in the near future.
“I had lunch here and saw him training,” Klopp said. “I sat there and thought: ‘Why is he not playing?’ He’s obviously gaining fitness now, but didn’t get the green light yet for team training.
“There is no-one in his building who wants to hold him back so there must be some reasons. He is completely pain-free, all checks have been made, bone looks good.”
Ryan Gravenberch was stretchered off in the 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday and he will at least miss the game against Southampton after sustaining ankle ligament damage. Wataru Endo, who left Wembley in a protective boot and on crutches is doubtful, while Klopp is set to make a late call on the fitness of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai.
