Liverpool provide fitness update on Thiago Alcantara and Divock Origi

Thiago has not figured since the win over Newcastle United on December 16 due to a COVID-19 infection and a subsequent knock.

Thiago Alcantara celebrates a goal in a file photo; Credit: Liverpool FC Twitter
By Karthik Raman | Jan 19, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara will possibly return to full training following the forthcoming international break, according to Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders. The former Bayern Munich midfielder has not figured since the win over Newcastle United on December 16 due to a COVID-19 infection and a subsequent knock. On the other hand, striker Divock Origi might take a bit longer to return. The Belgian centre-forward could resume full sessions following the Emirates FA Cup tie with Cardiff City at the start of February.

Ahead of the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal, Lijnders said in a press conference, “Thiago, hopefully he will be in full team training after the international break to prepare for the Cardiff game. Divock will not be ready until after Cardiff.”

Shifting the attention to the Arsenal game, he was asked whether Liverpool have practised penalties ahead of the second leg. Lijnders replied, “I said this before, finals – and tomorrow is a semi-final but this is a final to reach Wembley – you don’t prepare in the week coming up to the game or the five days coming up. You prepare them from the first day of pre-season. Penalties is the same case. You’re not going to train penalties on the day before the game when we have these finals.” 

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Lijnders: We are prepared for all situations

“We are prepared for all situations. We know how important these set-pieces are but during the whole game. We really look forward to this game. I really looked forward from when the final whistle went at Anfield because everybody was writing us off, everybody was speaking about us. We couldn’t wait to go there and, how I said before, hopefully to create a special game for us.”

Asked which goalkeeper will play in Thursday night’s clash at Arsenal, Lijnders said, “What’s good is that we have three really good goalkeepers. Adrian, every time he needed to come in, he saved us. Caoimhin, massive talent – you cannot call him a talent anymore. He has all the characteristics we want from a Liverpool Football Club goalkeeper. He’s calm, he can play, amazing shot-stopper, has the personality to not be involved for 60 minutes and then has to make a crucial save, he’s somebody who can play with a lot of space in front of him – what happens a lot with our last line and the way we want to apply pressure on the opposition.” 

“And then we have Ali, and nothing to say. He’s our Brazilian cat and he’s everything you want from a goalkeeper. For me, he’s the best goalkeeper in the world. We’re really happy with all three of them. Let’s see tomorrow who’s going to start but I’m sure all three would do well.”





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