Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Thiago is unlikely to feature in Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United.
The Reds travel to St James’ Park on Wednesday night, looking to pull five points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table.
The hope has been that Thiago could play a part in the game, having not appeared for Liverpool since the draw at Everton in mid-October.
Speaking ahead of the Newcastle game, however [via This Is Anfield], Klopp hinted that the Spaniard would not be available:
I like watching all my boys play, and with Thiago, of course, he had a few minutes, I would say, until he got injured,” Klopp said.
So of course, we are looking forward to that, but I don’t know, it’s not really likely that he will travel.
Let me say it like this. He needs a few sessions now, he’s really been out for a long time after the harsh challenge.
It was proper impact. Nothing ruptured, nothing broken, but still took time obviously.
And it still takes time, so we cannot and will not rush that. So I don’t know [when we will be back].
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Thiago was such an exciting summer signing, so it has been deeply frustrating to see him feature for just 135 minutes in a Reds shirt.
He is a world-class midfielder capable of running matches and providing levels of guile others are incapable of – he would have been perfect in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at home to West Brom, helping break down a stubborn Baggies rearguard.
The hope is that Thiago will be back for the trip to Southampton next Monday, and that he can have a huge impact in the second half of the season.
