Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara admits an empty Anfield has hurt the players this season.

While all clubs have had to get used to the absence of fans, the echoes around a normally buzzing Anfield have been especially chilling and the Spain midfielder thinks that silence has affected Jurgen Klopp's players.

"This year, with the fans missing, the team has needed to find an extra gear to be able to compete," he told Liverpool's matchday programme.

"Everyone wants to continue winning things and scoring goals and this desire is still very strong in the team.

"It's not a case of all or nothing, we need to be intelligent. Playing at the high level we do, we're not blindly going into battle. We'll try to do things better to win the next game.

"I think it's the emotional side for players. Brazilian players bring this emotion on to the pitch - suffering in bad times and highly driven when times are good.

"This emotional aspect is really important, not just for Brazilian footballers but Brazilians in general.

"We're suffering a lot with this in our profession, we've adapted but obviously we really miss the fans."