Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara has explained his preseason injury problems.

Thiago joined up with Reds pre-season training camp last week but sat out Thursday's two friendly wins against Bologna in Evian due to a minor muscle problem.

"The last season I started with – from a long time before that – some pain up there in the hamstring, between the glutes, old pain," said Thiago.

"I was never clean to play because I was always with that pain and there's a point during the end of the last season that I started to feel (it) more and more. And with the national team, even I couldn't sprint in some terms, I couldn't do some actions.

"So I try to start the pre-season, always in agreement with the medical team, to (do) individual work to clean the area a bit more and to be without more pain.

"So we are at that point now that we try to take it out and, at the same point, to stay with the team. I think we will try to reach the first game of the season, for sure."

Explaining his fitness programme during Liverpool's training camp, Thiago added: "We have 24 hours to work individually. So while the team was training in the morning, I was doing my individual training.

"While the team was resting, I was doing my individual training. So, I have enough time to get fit.

"The season is so long now and there is some point in my life that I have to be a bit selfish to say, 'okay, stop a bit and be as fit as you can (be) for yourself as well but for your team.'

"I'm at that point – getting near 100% to bring back all the action for the team."