Jurgen Klopp revealed that Thiago Alcantara dashed to hospital in the early hours of Saturday morning before Liverpool's shock 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Thiago was a notable absentee when the Reds arrived at the City Ground, with Klopp initially revealing that the Spanish midfielder was out with an ear infection. Post-match, however, the Liverpool manager lifted the lid on Thiago's painful predicament, which involved needing to go to hospital at 5:15am.
"Thiago got this last night, a bad ear infection. There was no chance for him to do anything. We drove him home," Klopp explained. "The decision was taken at 5:15am. He woke up in the middle of the night and had the problem.
"I woke up an hour later, but the decision was taken the moment he woke up and the doctor went there and they went to the hospital. It didn't work out, though. Yes, he was in that much pain he had to go to the hospital."
Thiago wasn't the only big-name player who missed the defeat, as in-form striker Darwin Nunez was ruled out with a hamstring issue. Nunez is excepted to return for Wednesday's trip Amsterdam to face Ajax in the Champions League, with the Reds also hoping that Ibrahima Konate can be fit for the match.
The French defender has missed Liverpool's last three games with an abductor problem, joining long-term absentee Naby Keita on the sidelines. Both Konate and Keita will resume training on Thursday, though, in a welcome bit of news for Klopp.
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"Darwin should be back (for Ajax)," the Liverpool boss confirmed. "This (Forest) game was just too early, having another day recovery would have helped him, but we played today. At least that’s my knowledge at the moment. Ibou will train from Sunday on and Naby as well, but Naby is far off. He starts training after a long period."
Events on the pitch were less pleasing for Klopp, who couldn't hold back his disappointment with his team's first loss in four games following a resurgent run of form. "That it will be a difficult game for us was clear," the German affirmed, as former Reds striker Taiwo Awoniyi scored in the 55th minute to give Nottingham Forest all three points.
"Away, Nottingham [Forest] not in a great situation and [a] super-intense week for us, two super-intense games, [we] had to change late, so it was clear that we have to be ready to put a big fight in. The boys did. But how we cannot score from the set-pieces, I have no idea. That's it now, pretty much. So the performance I can explain, the result not really, to be honest.
