Jurgen Klopp says £200,000-a-week Liverpool star won’t play v Brighton

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Thiago Alcantara is still unavailable, despite taking part in training on Thursday.

The 30-year-old joined Liverpool to much fanfare last September, arriving from Bayern Munich in a £25million deal.

Thiago’s first half-season at Anfield wasn’t plain sailing amid injury and illness, but he soon cemented a starting spot.

The Spaniard clocked up 30 appearances in all competitions last term, including 24 in the Premier League.

This season, Thiago has made five appearances, but hasn’t featured for Liverpool since mid-September.

He went off in the 62nd minute of the 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace on September 18 with a calf injury.

However, Thiago was back in training at Kirkby alongside his teammates on Thursday.

Indeed, he appeared to be participating in the full contact elements of the session, and was kicking the ball too.

Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Brighton at Anfield will, however, come too early for the £200,000-a-week ace.

“Thiago was in team training for the first time yesterday,” Klopp said at his press conference on Friday.

“We did a session where he could be part of pretty much the whole session, [but] that doesn’t mean he is ready to play a football game, unfortunately.

“We will see what we do with him, but he is closer than he was last week, much closer. Now we have to see what we do with that.”

Klopp also gave an insight into when he expects to have Thiago back at 100 percent.

“After the international break I expect him 100 percent to be back,” he added.

“But he wants to be back earlier – we have to see if that’s possible.”