Liverpool confirmed major injury blow ahead of Newcastle United - hours before Everton win

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp confirmed Thiago Alcantara will be sidelined “for a while” after missing the Merseyside derby against Everton.

The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona midfielder injured his hip during training in the build-up to the 2-0 victory at Anfield.

Klopp, during Friday’s pre-match press conference, confirmed Thiago’s injury but did not mention a potential timescale.

The German said: “Thiago has some problems I know the problem but I have to ask the medical department what I’m allowed to say

“With the hip flexor, stuff like this, that’s it pretty much. He was not able to train.”

However, in the hours leading up to the Everton clash, Klopp spoke to Sky Sports pre-match, and revealed Thiago won’t be back any time soon.

“Obviously the Thiago situation is not cool for us, he will be out for a while with a hip problem,” Klopp said. “So we had to make one decision at least and so we made two.”

In the Spaniard’s absence, Klopp recalled Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to the starting XI for the first time since the 3-0 defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion on January 14.

Klopp added: “We had a long training week, obviously. We had seven sessions – so that’s long. Everybody could show up and they showed up.

“Fabinho had a really good training week. We all know it was not his best season so far, but in training he looked really, really good.

“So that was then clear that we bring him in, and then Hendo is always close to getting into the team.”