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He hasn’t graced Anfield for 13 months and you have to go back to the wretched 3-0 defeat at Wolves in February 2023 for the last time he started for Liverpool.

His body hasn’t been able to withstand the rigours of Premier League football and, after Liverpool’s midfield was rebuilt in his absence last summer, he has remained on the periphery ever since — Anfield’s forgotten man.

GO DEEPER

Thiago, what's happened at Liverpool - and what comes next

What a contrast to the euphoria generated by his arrival from Bayern Munich for £25million ($31m) in September 2020.

His final appearance of a trophy-laden seven-year spell in Germany was a man-of-the-match performance in the Champions League final triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon.

At 29, Thiago was viewed as a statement signing — a player operating at the peak of his powers and who represented a significant shift from the club’s transfer policy of investing in younger talent with big potential.

Previously, his team had been reliant on full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson for creativity, but Thiago was a player capable of dissecting defences from central areas.

The fee was relatively low because Thiago only had one year remaining on his contract and he penned a four-year deal worth around £250,000 per week.

The honeymoon period didn’t last long.

Then, on his return to action in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, he was clattered by Richarlison and suffered a knee injury which kept him out for nearly three months.

Thiago was badly injured by this tackle from Richarlison in 2020 (John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

By the time Thiago was available again, Liverpool were grappling with a defensive injury crisis and confidence had taken a battering.

He stood accused of having too many touches and slowing down Klopp’s side.

Being left out of both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid hurt him, but he made the necessary adjustments tactically and played his part during the run-in as Liverpool salvaged a top-four finish.

There were times in 2021-22 when Thiago was an absolute joy to watch with his elegance and remarkable eye for a pass.

Take his 25-yard strike against Porto in the Champions League, which seemed to defy gravity as it hovered six inches above the turf en route to the bottom corner.

Thiago delivered a masterclass in the 4-0 rout of Manchester United which earned him a standing ovation from Anfield when he was substituted late on.

Even in 2021-22 when he clocked up 39 appearances, there was a calf problem, another bout of Covid and a sprain of the hip capsule, as well as thigh and Achilles problems.

He cried at Wembley when he was ruled out of the 2022 Carabao Cup final victory against Chelsea after being hurt in the warm-up, although he did play all 120 minutes in the FA Cup final win over the same opponent three months later, scoring in the penalty shootout.

He almost missed the Champions League final in Paris as he couldn’t feel his toes after having a pain-killing injection.
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