08 February 2024 , 12:18
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Thiago Alcantara has suffered another injury setback in his first game since his return from a hip problem.
The Liverpool midfielder is just back to full fitness following a lengthy lay off with hip and hamstring issues which have kept him out since last season. Thiago, 32, returned to action as a late sub in the Reds’ 3-1 defeat by Arsenal last weekend.
But he now has another muscle injury after feeling something during the game. It is not known how long the Spanish midfielder is set to miss. But it yet another blow for Jurgen Klopp having hoped to have Thiago ready for the Premier League title run in.
Liverpool will continue to assess the midfielder and hope it could only be a minor issue as he continues his rehabilitation from a long time out.
His last appearance before the Gunners clash was in a 2-1 win at West Ham in April. Thiago’s time at Liverpool since signing from Bayern Munich in 2020 has been injury plagued with knee, calf and thigh problems as well as the hip issue.
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Klopp had made it clear how much he values Thiago when he confirmed that he had returned to training prior to the win over Chelsea last week.
“Thiago trained [fully for the] first time, which was an incredible moment," he said. “After all the months he couldn’t, and then trains at the level he trains…[wow]. But he needs time. Anyway, a wonderful, wonderful sign.”
Liverpool will be without Dominik Szoboszlai for at least a couple of weeks after he sustained an injury prior to the Arsenal game, with reports in Hungary stating that he could miss the Carabao Cup final.
Mo Salah is nearing his return from the hamstring injury he picked up at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Wataru Endo has returned from the Asia Cup after Japan's elimination, and Conor Bradley is expected to be welcomed back into the squad after missing the Arsenal game following the death of his father.