Thiago Alcantara future could be affected by Liverpool change under Jurgen Klopp
Thiago Alcantara hasn't featured for the Liverpool first team since last April and is out of contract in the summer - but can still have a part to play
From among the most decorated to potentially becoming mere decoration. Thiago Alcantara, though, will hope there is still time to demonstrate why his stay at Liverpool should prompt more than just a sense of what might have been.
As the Reds squad reconvened at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby on Wednesday afternoon following their mid-winter break, the midfielder was once again nowhere to be spotted during team training.
"We miss Thiago, I have to say," said Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders. "I miss him a lot. Can you imagine our new midfielders that people are talking about, and then you have Thiago Alcantara in the middle as well? The experience, the way he passes, the way he moves, everything, we really miss him. He is an unbelievable professional and an unbelievable guy and we hope to get him back soon."
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Those words were spoken in late October. More than 10 weeks on, Thiago has still yet to resume full training, with the latest return date slated for the beginning of next month.
Any Liverpool frustration would be understandable, not least given the decision taken towards the end of last season to curtail Thiago's campaign early to undergo surgery on a long-standing hip injury to provide sufficient recovery time to be ready for the new term.
The 32-year-old hasn't been seen since. And while the Reds' new-look midfield has, sometimes through accident rather than design, continually found a winning formula to ensure Jurgen Klopp's side continue to challenge on four fronts, Thiago's absence continues to be felt.
Liverpool, though, have grown used to being unable to call upon the Spaniard. Since his arrival in September 2020 after an already trophy-laden career, the Reds have played 197 games. Thiago has been unavailable for 94 of those due to a series of ailments that have ranged from a knee injury and thigh problems through to contracting coronavirus twice and having an ear infection.
He also had to pull out of the League Cup final in 2022 shortly before kick-off through injury, and almost did likewise in the Champions League final a few months later due to an Achilles problem. Unlucky? Most definitely. But a trend impossible to ignore.
It goes some way to explaining why there has been no indication of Liverpool opening talks over a new contract for Thiago, who will become a free agent in the summer. As such, he has been able to talk to interested overseas clubs since the start of the month, with Brazilian side Flamengo the latest to be reportedly monitoring the Spain international.
Klopp has long insisted that even players who are running down their contracts will continue to be called upon if deemed of use to the Liverpool manager. That was the case with Emre Can - who came off the bench to play in the Champions League final in 2018 in his last match - and, a few seasons later, Gini Wijnaldum.
However, last season witnessed a move away from that approach. Naby Keita didn't feature in the final 16 matches, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made just three substitute appearances after mid-January, James Milner started only twice from March onwards while Roberto Firmino was restricted to a similar number after the mid-season World Cup. Liverpool were already moving on.
Thiago, though, shouldn't be considered done just yet. Recent weeks have demonstrated Liverpool will need every player they can if they are to continue their challenge for honours during the second half of the season, particularly when the Europa League knockout stages begin.
Given the qualities previously outlined by Lijnders, Thiago still has a part to play beyond the occasional cameo. And the prospect of adding to his trophy tally is surely motivation enough for the Spaniard to ensure a silver lining to a vexing Anfield stay.