Pep Lijnders admits Liverpool have 'missed' Thiago

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders admitted it will 'take time' before Thiago is available for selection again, having missed the entire season so far.

The 32-year-old midfielder last started a game for the Reds in the 3-0 defeat at Wolves back in February and hasn't featured at all since April, due to an ongoing hip issue.

Amid the midfield overhaul at Liverpool this summer, Thiago stayed put at Anfield despite links to Spain, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. However, setbacks in his recovery forced him to miss pre-season, while official updates from the club have since refused to put a timeline on the former Bayern Munich man's return.

Speaking in the pre-match press conference ahead of the Carabao Cup last 16 tie with Bournemouth, Lijnders spoke of how much this new-look Liverpool side has 'missed' the veteran playmaker.

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He said: "We have missed Thiago. I have missed him a lot.

"Imagine our new midfield that people are talking about and you have Thiago in the middle as well guiding.

"It will take time. He won't be available [against Bournemouth]."

Thiago, reportedly one of the highest earners at Anfield, is now in the final year of his four-year Liverpool contract and will likely leave next summer.

Anfield Watch reported during the summer that the Reds were open to a summer deal for the midfielder during their rebuild, but ultimately no move presented itself.

In the same press conference, Lijnders also confirmed that 19-year-old midfielder Stefan Bajcetic will also be unavailable for selection in Liverpool's clash against Bournemouth, while Ben Doak is back in training following a knock on international duty.