REVEALED: The staggering amount Thiago Alcantara has cost Liverpool this season

Thiago Alcantara has been dealt yet another injury blow this week, despite only just making his return from the sidelines, and the true cost of his injury layoffs this season has since been revealed.

Alcantara made his return to the Liverpool side on Sunday for the first time since April last year - a 10 month layoff - where he came off the bench in the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.

The Spanish midfielder managed just 13 minutes of action on his return - and it looks to be his last involvement for some time after he once again suffered a bitter injury blow.

On Thursday it was announced that the reported £200,000-a-week midfielder had come down with a muscle injury that now leaves his inclusion in doubt for the rest of the season.

With his contract up at the end of the campaign, fans may have already seen the last of the Spanish international, who has cost the club a considerable amount of money this term for little input on the pitch.

As a result of his hefty wages, Alcantara has in fact cost Liverpool some £5.2million for just five minutes of work all season.

It comes with Alcantara having missed 107 games through injury for club and country since his arrival on Merseyside.

The Spain star - who has also not featured for La Roja since 2021 - signed for £25m in the summer of 2020, and has only played 98 times for the Reds in that time in all competitions.

Different hamstring, thigh and knee problems have restricted him to 51 Premier League starts though he remains a cult figure with The Kop because of his silky skills and passing range.

While there is no indication that the injury is long-term, there has also been no suggestion that he might be back sooner rather than later.

Thiago is regarded as one of the best technical players of his