The midfielder, who is set to return from injury after the international break, could soften the blow dealt by Stefan Bajcetic
The international break has brought a welcome pause to Liverpool’s struggling season, and Jurgen Klopp will be assessing which players he will have at his disposal when the Reds return to Premier League action against Manchester City next month.
The Reds are currently seven points shy of a Champions League qualifying spot with 12 top-flight games remaining, and with a trophy out of sight, the manager can now fully concentrate on closing the gap with Tottenham Hotspur in fourth place.
The Merseyside club has the worst injury record in the Premier League so far this season, which has been a major contributor to the club’s inconsistent selection and performance on the pitch, but this could be about to change just in time.
Luis Diaz, along with Joe Gomez and Thiago Alcantara, is expected to be available for the highly-anticipated Etihad meeting on April 1st, which is a huge boost for Klopp heading into the business end of the season, with the top four looking elusive at the moment.
Indeed, midfielder Stefan Bajcetic was recently ruled out of the season, but the return of Thiago could be the saving grace Klopp desperately needs in the center.
Should Thiago make his Liverpool debut?
Thiago has undoubtedly become a fan favorite since joining Liverpool from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2020, demonstrating on numerous occasions why he is a valuable asset to the Liverpool manager and team.
Former footballer George Chomakov described the 31-year-old midfielder as “world-class,” as he ranks in the top 9% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for passes attempted, pass completion, progressive passes, tackles, and interceptions, demonstrating that he remains one of the continent’s best deep-lying players.
Thiago has proven his class with an 86% pass completion rate in 14 Premier League appearances, proving he is one of the best conductors in the squad.
The Spaniard, a midfielder with class on the ball, has completed 83% of his dribble attempts while averaging 1.2 key passes.
His German coach has always praised the player and his impact when he is fit, saying:
“Of course, I knew that when he arrived. He was unlucky with injuries and other misfortunes at the start, but when he’s healthy, he can provide a real rhythm to the game.”
“He’s got an eye for that, he calms the game down at the right times, and he has a fantastic overview of the game.”
That being said, in Liverpool’s desperate attempt to regain control of games, the return of the £200,000-per-week asset could not be more warmly welcomed.
Indeed, his presence on the field in the remaining games could ensure that Klopp’s charges finish the season on a high note.
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