Thiago, what’s happened at Liverpool – and what comes next

It’s seven months and counting since Thiago last played for Liverpool and with his contract expiring in the summer, the finishing line is drawing closer.

His last appearance was a 30-minute cameo off the bench away at West Ham United in April. He helped provide the quality in a hard-fought 2-1 victory after Liverpool went behind in the 12th minute.

Jurgen Klopp and his coaching staff have discussed how beneficial Thiago’s presence in midfield would have been this season. They could have used his cunning and creativity to open up stern opposition or call on his experience to help see a game out.

Persistent hip problems have ruined his year, though, with only 11 appearances in 2023. The flicker of hope is that all being well, he’s not far away from a return to full training. “All being well” are the important words here. History shows it’s much harder to plan around a return when he has already suffered two setbacks this season after surgery over the summer.

Thiago, one of the real leaders of the group at 32, was close to a return in August and then towards the end of September, only to suffer a complication during the rehabilitation programme. Klopp described his problems as “annoying” — an emotion shared by the player himself, who wanted to contribute more often in what is likely to be his final season at Anfield.

There was a rare period of durability between the final third of the 2021-22 season and the start of 2023 in which Thiago missed only a handful of games with a hamstring problem. But the hip injury that followed has been destructive.

He missed most of February and March before returning briefly in April, only to break down with a similar setback weeks later and sit out of the closing six games of the last Premier League season.

Liverpool were already out of the Champions League and FA Cup by that stage, and the push for the top-four was a long shot.

Klopp decided this was time to experiment, first with Trent Alexander-Arnold in a hybrid right-back/central-midfield role, but also by giving Curtis Jones (who excelled) more minutes.

Thiago’s absence played a part in the decision to sign four new midfielders — Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo — this summer. Even if fit, Thiago would have faced a challenge to hold down a starting berth as Liverpool began the process of moving on some of the older midfielders and replacing them with younger, fresher alternatives.

Yet the longer-serving players, alongside the coaching staff, understand the qualities of a player who is still recognised as the toughest to dispossess when he trains with the group. His ability to unlock the defence is also unique, although Mac Allister shows signs of being a more complete alternative.

His technical brilliance and in-game control might have helped in recent weeks when Liverpool dropped points at Luton Town and then lost to Toulouse in the Europa League.

Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders had already suggested as much, saying in between those games away from home: “We miss Thiago, we really miss him.

“Can you imagine our midfield, our new players everybody is speaking about, then you have Thiago in the middle as well? Guiding the others, the experience, the way he passes, the way he moves. Everything.”

When Liverpool began moving forward with a new playing style that brought an impressive set of results, Thiago was either out injured or on the bench watching others in his place. Liverpool failed to win the last four league games he started (against Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea and Wolves) — but this was perhaps a sign that something wasn’t right with the collective rather than the individual.

Thiago’s fitness has also become something of a running joke among supporters, many of whom recognise his quality but have given up hope of him ever being consistently available.

Although Thiago often spends time in the dressing room before games, it’s been a lonely and testing period. He arrived as a plug-and-play performer in September 2020 following years of success at title-winning sides Barcelona and Bayern Munich. He also won the Champions League with both clubs.

He has trained alone and away from the group for long spells as part of his recovery. Klopp has checked in regularly on a player he has enjoyed working with for three years, and other staff members have done their best to keep his spirits up, via chats at the training ground and sending of regular text messages.

As Liverpool begin a run of nine games in 27 days, having Thiago around to contribute would have helped. Klopp knows he cannot be rushed back, though, because of the sensitivity of the issue and has previously spoken about not putting any pressure on a return.

Away from football, Thiago celebrated the birth of his third child this month. He’s feeling optimistic about the future and hopes to still play a part in Liverpool’s push for major honours. Thiago has already tasted success in the FA Cup and League Cup before missing out on a clean sweep of Champions League winning medals with all three of his clubs as Liverpool lost to Real Madrid in the 2022 final.

A move away in January is unlikely, despite some reports suggesting otherwise.

He turned down advances from Saudi Arabian clubs over the summer, deciding that he was happy to see out the season at Anfield. With just six months left on his deal when the transfer window reopens in January, a move away in the summer is more probable.

As a free agent in June, Thiago will have many other options to consider. If he can get himself fit and play regularly again, he will be an attractive option. There’s still plenty to give but time is running out.

(Top photo: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)