Liverpool: Thiago Alcantara returns to training and is available vs Napoli

Liverpool star Thiago Alcantara has handed manager Jurgen Klopp a huge boost as he has returned to full training ahead of the Reds’ Champions League clash against Napoli, reports reliable journalist Neil Jones.

The Lowdown: Thiago’s injury

In the Reds’ opening game of the Premier League season, the 31-year-old played just 51 minutes of football at Craven Cottage before he was forced to limp off the pitch with a hamstring injury.

The Spaniard is yet to feature since he sustained this injury, having missed the side’s last five top-flight fixtures – with his presence sorely missed in Klopp’s midfield.

The Latest: UCL return

Ahead of Liverpool’s Wednesday night Champions League tie against Napoli, Jones has provided an injury update on the Spanish pass-master.

Taking to Twitter, the reliable journalist reported:

“A more than timely boost for Liverpool. Thiago’s influence has been sorely missed.”

In the attached article, Jones reports that Thiago is now back in full training and is set to travel to Italy with the rest of Klopp’s squad.

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The Verdict: Huge boost

When looking at Thiago’s underlying stats, it is easy to see just how important he is to Liverpool’s success in the middle of the park.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, the midfielder impressively ranks in the top one percent for progressive passes and in the top three percent for progressive carries.

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So far this season, the Reds have amassed just nine points from six games, somehow landing them seventh in the Premier League table.

However, with Thiago set to return, Klopp will be able to reintroduce a bit of normality in Liverpool’s midfield, which has seen numerous player combinations used in his absence.

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Will Seager

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