Hamann warns Klopp that Liverpool is not ‘good enough’ to play £25m star

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Didi Hamann has now urged Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp against recalling Thiago Alcantara to his line-up. He does not feel the Reds are ‘good enough’ to recall the injured midfielder.

Liverpool have been without Thiago for their past three games due to a hip injury. The 31-year-old sustained the blow ahead of the Merseyside derby. He had held a pivotal place in Klopp’s side before the injury having started in their previous nine Premier League games.

Thiago has further started in each of his 14 top-flight outings so far this term. He has only been available for 63% of the Anfield natives’ matches having also missed five games with a hamstring injury from August into September. He also missed one with an ear infection.

Klopp still faces weeks with Thiago as Liverpool prepare to visit Crystal Palace on Saturday. The Spaniard’s hip issue is expected to rule him out for around four weeks, spanning seven matches in all competitions. He sat out the third of those against Real Madrid this Tuesday.

Liverpool’s trip to Real Madrid for the second-leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie may be the soonest that Thiago returns from his injury. The 46-cap international played in five and started in three of the Reds’ Group A games. He did not play in their win at Ajax.

Hamann urges Klopp against recalling Thiago once the Liverpool star is injury-free

But Hamann does not feel Klopp can afford to recall Thiago once the midfielder returns to fitness from his injury. The former Reds midfielder feels the Anfield natives’ present issues mean they cannot afford to carry a player of the Spaniard’s ilk whilst striving to find form.

“Thiago, I’ve never been a fan of [him],” Hamman told talkSPORT. “I don’t think Liverpool is good enough to have a Thiago in the team at the moment.”

Liverpool travel to Crystal Palace this weekend sitting eighth in the Premier League table. The Reds have won their two top-flight fixtures since Thiago’s injury against Everton and Newcastle United. They had not won any of the last four in which the Spaniard featured.

Klopp afforded Thiago the full 90 minutes during Liverpool’s defeats at Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion and in their 0-0 draw with Chelsea. The £20m, rising to £25m, former Bayern Munich star also played 85 minutes at Wolves as the Merseyside club lost in his last game.