Thiago suffers fresh setback as Liverpool confirm three other injury updates Liverpool injury news as Jurgen Klopp gives latest on Thiago, Cody Gakpo, Stefan Bajcetic and Conor Bradley

Thiago suffers fresh setback as Liverpool confirm three other injury updates

Liverpool injury news as Jurgen Klopp gives latest on Thiago, Cody Gakpo, Stefan Bajcetic and Conor Bradley

Thiago Alcantara of Liverpool during a training session back in August

Thiago Alcantara of Liverpool during a training session back in August

Thiago Alcantara has suffered another “annoying” injury setback – but Liverpool are hopeful Cody Gakpo will return after the international break.

Thiago hasn’t featured for Jurgen Klopp’s side since undergoing surgery on a long-standing hip problem in May, with his last start coming back in February in the 3-0 Premier League defeat at Wolves.

Having returned to team training in August, the Spaniard was struck by a further problem a few weeks later as he closed on a return.

And Klopp has revealed the 32-year-old is still no nearer to being available with teenage midfielder Stefan Bajcetic – who has made one start since March – also remaining on the sidelines after his own fitness setback.

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“It’s just, for him (Thiago) especially, it’s annoying,” said the Reds boss. “He’s now had two setbacks in the rehab. Not massive but enough to take him off the pitch again.

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“Obviously not the same injury, not at all, but a bit similar. And as annoying as it is for Stefan Bajcetic – he was there, played a few minutes, and then felt something else.

“That’s how it is after long-term injuries from time-to-time. I don’t know, I will not pressure on that (when they can return). If they will be back after international break, we will see. Hopefully, would be cool.”

Conor Bradley, who began at right-back in pre-season before sustaining a stress fracture of his back in July, is closing on a return although Liverpool are being careful with the fitness of the 20-year-old Northern Ireland international.

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“Conor is on the way back,” said Klopp. “He is running. In that age group and with these kind of injuries, you tend to give them rather three weeks more than not enough because it has to better.

“It has to do with the growing process of the body. Stuff like this. I couldn’t get this injury anymore, let me say it like that. And that’s why they need a bit of time.”

Gakpo, though, is likely to return later this month having been forced off with a knee injury at half-time during last weekend’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur having suffered the problem before scoring Liverpool’s equalising goal.

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