Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Jurgen Klopp admitted last week that Thiago Alcantara’s season could be over; given the midfielder’s unfortunate habit of injury setbacks, there should be little optimism that he can make a swifter-than-expected return from a muscle problem.

While Klopp’s valedictory campaign at Anfield may bring four trophies, Thiago Alcantara’s has yielded five minutes on the pitch.

Yet Thiago has been an ever-present on the treatment table, not the pitch.

A change of thought, tactics and personnel began even before the summer arrivals of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch, before Jordan Henderson and Fabinho joined James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in leaving – unlike his sidekicks, Thiago never received an offer from Saudi Arabia.

That came last April, as Trent Alexander-Arnold began to move into a hybrid midfield role and as Liverpool started winning.

The alternative perspective is that he was two games from greatness, from being the player who added another dimension to the team who won the lot.

Thiago was a standout for the Reds in 2021/22 (Getty Images)

Thiago graced the side who, winning both domestic cups, runners up in the Premier League and the Champions League, almost won the quadruple.

“A player like Thiago – settled that much at Bayern – is usually pretty much out of reach for everyone,” Klopp said in 2020.

Soon after, Klopp reflected: “When Thiago is in the shape he is in now, he would play for any team in the world”.

A Guardiola player in a Klopp team, Thiago was brilliant for one year.