Klopp Plays Down Severity Of Thiago Injury

Thiago picked up the injury in the warm-up of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea and left the pitch in tears before being replaced by Naby Keita in the starting eleven.

It was feared that the 30-year-old, who has suffered fitness issues since joining from Bayern Munich last summer, could be set for an extended spell on the sidelines but Klopp has allayed those fears and is hopeful that the Spain international could return in time for next week’s UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg against Inter Milan at Anfield.

"He's not crying anymore," the Reds manager told reporters on Tuesday. "This was a very emotional moment.

"We were all surprised. I watched the whole warm-up, didn't see anything, and I came in the dressing room and he's on the bed, telling me he feels something in his hamstring, which is not good obviously.

"We had to make the decision that he could not start at this moment, when you are that close to playing a final.

"For the one player who won probably the most silverware in the whole squad, or as much as the whole squad together, to show this emotion... I didn't like that he didn't feel that good, but the desire to play the final I liked a lot.

"He's fine again but not fit again. For the weekend, I'm not sure; maybe Milan. After that, definitely."

Thiago has featured 20 times across all competitions for Liverpool this season, scoring two goals.