Thiago may miss Champions League final
Liverpool finished as runners-up to Manchester City by a point and Klopp said his squad would channel that frustration positively in next Saturday’s final in Paris.
German manager Jürgen Klopp said Liverpool’s Premier League title disappointment has increased their hunger to win the Champions League, but he faces an anxious wait over whether Thiago Alcântara will be fit to face Real Madrid.
Liverpool finished as runners-up to Manchester City by a point and Klopp said his squad would channel that frustration positively in next Saturday’s final in Paris.
“This season is absolutely incredible and it does not end today, it ends next week,” said the Liverpool manager.
“We have now five days to prepare for the final and that is what we will do. We face an incredibly experienced team but that’s okay. Of course, losing the league today increases the desire to put it right next week. Yes, it increases the desire.”
The muscle injury sustained by the influential Alcântara at the end of the first half saw him walk straight off the pitch. The setback for Spaniard, who missed the Carabao Cup final after sustaining an injury in the warm-up, comes with Fabinho also battling to overcome a hamstring issue.
“Not good but I cannot say more,” added Klopp. “He was outside with the families [for the lap of honour] and had his little girl on his shoulders, so he could walk. That’s obviously a good sign.
“It is the lower part of the body. I don’t want to talk now about it, actually. We will see. Hopefully, Thiago will have a chance.”
Divock Origi has already been ruled out with a muscle injury sustained in training on Saturday afternoon.
