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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Theo Squires

Arthur Melo sends two-word message after Jurgen Klopp admission ahead of final Liverpool chance

Arthur Melo has sent a two-word message ahead of what will be his final opportunity to make his Premier League debut for Liverpool.

The Brazilian joined the Reds on loan from Juventus on transfer deadline day last August as Jurgen Klopp lost a number of midfielders to injury. However, a 13-minute substitute appearance against Napoli in the Champions League last September remains his only appearance for the club.

A torn thigh muscle suffered in training back in October required surgery and would rule the Brazil international out until February. By the time of his return, Liverpool’s midfield options were no longer depleted.

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An unused substitute for the Reds four times since overcoming injury, most recently against Leicester City earlier this month, the 26-year-old has seven matchday squad appearances to add to his solitary first team outing against Napoli.

Absent from the Liverpool squad that faced Aston Villa on Saturday, he now only has one last chance to make his Premier League debut. With the Reds’ final game of the season coming away at Southampton, it also means the midfielder has missed out on the opportunity to play at Anfield, with his only appearance at the ground being for Barcelona in their infamous Champions League semi-final defeat in 2019.

Arthur will return to Juventus this summer, with it already long-since decided that Liverpool won’t sign the Brazilian permanently. But despite his lack of game time at Anfield, he recently only had positives to say about his year in England and working with Klopp.

Meanwhile, the Reds boss shared his sympathy for the midfielder when wishing him well in his final pre-match programme notes of the season against Aston Villa.

“I would also like to wish Arthur Melo well as his loan period comes to an end,” the German said. “Circumstances meant Arthur was not able to play as much as he would have liked but his professionalism and ability were clear to all who worked with him.”

Yet Arthur hasn’t given up hope of still making his Premier League debut for Liverpool, having taken part in the Reds’ latest training session on Tuesday.

Taking to social media, the Brazilian posted the message, ‘Keep working,’ on his Instagram story, with a flexed bicep emoji, along with a picture of the midfielder on the ball.

With Brighton & Hove Albion hosting Man City on Wednesday night, and Manchester United hosting Chelsea on Thursday, Liverpool’s final game of the season against Southampton could prove to be a dead-rubber with a fifth-place finish already secured. But whether Arthur will be handed a Premier League debut from Klopp, or is even involved in the trip to St. Mary’s, remains to be seen.

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