Liverpool players have reportedly named a teammate who hasn’t played at all this season as the most difficult to tackle in training.
How the Reds have missed Thiago Alcantara. Having struggled with an injury during the second half of last campaign, the Spaniard hasn’t played at all for Liverpool since April.
With his contract ending in the summer, there have been suggestions that Thiago could leave in January.
Nevertheless, a report from The Athletic today has underlined his enduring worth to Liverpool. As well as claiming that Jurgen Klopp and his coaches are still internally discussing how they miss their No.6 this season,
They also include an interesting titbit about how he’s viewed by his teammates.
Although he hasn’t actually been in training for quite a while, it’s claimed that Thiago is still seen by ‘longer-serving players and coaching staff’ as the most difficult to take the ball from in training.
Despite the 32-year-old’s long absence, those same players and staff reportedly still understand the quality that Thiago brings to the side.
Thiago is still the best midfielder for liverpool
Given the kind of players Liverpool have got within their squad, this is quite the accolade for Thiago.
The likes of Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah for instance are excellent dribblers. They may both feel to have a shot at this particular title for any other team.
Alexis Mac Allister is another who’s a master at keeping the ball. Curtis Jones recently detailed how the Argentine uses a special technique to keep tackles at bay during training.
But clearly, none can come close to Thiago. The former Bayern Munich man is all class. With a little shimmy and a roll of the boot, he’s in the wind.
It will be a fine day indeed when news arrives that Thiago has returned to giving his Liverpool colleagues the run-around during training.
It has been far too long without the £20m man at the AXA Training Centre.
Once he does come back, it’s unlikely that Thiago will come straight into the team. He’ll need to build his fitness slowly and the last thing we need is another issue to arise having been rushed into the side.
But if he can come back to the level of training he has obviously been showing in the past,
It won’t be long before Jurgen slips him back in. Hopefully not too long now.
