Despite having a solid start to the season, Pep Lijnders has identified the one player Liverpool is’missing’ a lot right now.
The Reds are now three points behind league leaders Spurs in the Premier League standings and top of their Europa League group with a perfect record. They will play in the fourth round of the League Cup tomorrow night against Bournemouth.
Assistant manager Lijnders thinks Liverpool may get even better if Thiago Alcantara gets back to full fitness, despite the team’s encouraging performances and the noteworthy impact produced by its four summer additions (quotes from @neiljonesgoal on X).
Due to a hip injury, the Spaniard has not played for Liverpool since the team’s 2-1 victory over West Ham in April.
The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona star is one of Klopp’s most gifted players, even though he is currently beyond 30.
With his superb passing and game reading, he can control play from the middle of the park, so it’s a major loss to not have him right now.
Our No. 6’s contract expires at the end of the current campaign, and given his dismal injury history, it seems doubtful that a new contract will be extended to him.
Let’s hope we can get him back to full fitness sooner rather than later because on his day he’s a real game changer.