Liverpool and Klopp barely got a taste of their world-class signing
Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Thiago Alcântara will be out of action for the rest of the year. The question now… Is this the first of many Thiago Alcántara setbacks?
One tackle has spoilt Thiago Alcântara’s start to life at Anfield. In the first Merseyside derby this season, a heated one, we saw a number of bad challenges made throughout the 90 minutes that involved Everton and Liverpool — most of them with Liverpool on the receiving end.
A challenge by Jordan Pickford ended Virgil van Dijk‘s season, as we watched Liverpool’s most expensive signing limp off with what would be declared as an ACL injury later on after his scan.
Another reckless tackle by Richarlison at the centre of the park saw the Brazilian red-carded and Liverpool’s playmaker, Thiago, become a doubt for the rest of the season.
Thiago went onto to finish the 90 minutes which was a promising sign at the time. Or so we thought. Not long after, during a period where Red personnel were dropping out like flies due to injury, the player was presumed injured—but predicted to be sidelined for only a short spell.
As weeks wore on, it became even more unclear when we would see Thiago back in action. There was hope he was making a good recovery, with him enjoying some training session at the old Melwood training ground.
Unfortunately, the tackle caused more harm than initially thought, hence why he is yet to return. Since the damaging day, he has made no comeback for club and country, and now all must wait till the year turns a new age to see him back out on the pitch.
Jurgen Klopp confirmed he is almost ready and they will have to be patient with his return to action.
Klopp on his talisman:
"Thiago we have to maybe clarify it a little bit.On that day when Thiago got injured in that challenge in the Everton game, there was another bad injury [to Virgil van Dijk] and after the scans it was like one was really bad news and the other one was really good news because nothing was broken, nothing was ruptured and stuff like this.But, as we realise now, it was still a massive impact on the knee. The problem is in a situation like that, nothing is ruptured and nothing is broken and that means everybody thinks, ‘OK, you can go after a few days’, but the impact on the leg was that big that it is still not OK.It is not massive and he trains from time to time, not in the moment because we just have to realise that we have to go a few further steps. I can’t say exactly when he will be fine, but it will take a few weeks still with Thiago. (Via: liverpoolfc.com)"
Will this be a norm for Thiago while at Anfield?
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With the English top-flight game much harder (harder in the sense, more robust and rugged) than other leagues across Europe, we could predict it will occur more often than not.
In an English derby like the Merseyside one we witnessed two months back, a United-Liverpool golden oldy, or even a heated top-of-the-table clash or relegation battle — challenges, tackles, and duels are dangerous and far more contested. Take Sunday’s Premier League head-to-head collision between Raul Jimenez and David Luiz as another example.
On the same day Liverpool lost their world-class signing, Pickford’s take on VVD is just another example. England’s top flight is not for the faint-hearted and brittle. Ask Crystal Palace’s James McCarthy, who while playing for Everton, had his leg broken in a duel with Rondon back in 2018.
He is known for his many injury concerns
The midfielder, while at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, was sidelined on many occasions. So it could get a lot worse now with him ageing and almost on the other side of 30. The 29-year-old’s best run came in 2018-2019, where he featured 30 times for Munich in the Bundesliga — 26 of them being starts.
Other than that, 27, 24, and 19 appearances are the most he has featured for his respective clubs in the past. He will be hoping for better fortune come 2021.
This season has seen him very limited with his minutes on the pitch. Having an extended break following his Champions League triumph in his treble-winning campaign with the German giants, he joined up late with the Merseyside outfit.
Related Story. Wolves’ Jimenez eager to get back to action. light
He has only played as little as 135 minutes of football, featuring 45 minutes in their 2-0 win over a 10-men Chelsea and a full 90 in their 2-2 draw against the Toffees.