Naby Keita’s Availability is Unknown, Says Jürgen Klopp

Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

The Liverpool manager is unsure if Keita will be in the squad that travels to Aston Villa.

It would be lovely for Naby Keita to get into a rhythm at Liverpool, to get a steady run of appearances. And to be injury-free for a reasonable period of time. Unfortunately, the Guinean midfielder may or may not be sidelined once again. The nature of Keita’s injury isn’t fully known but Jürgen Klopp wasn’t projecting much worry after the big win over Arsenal where Keita was subbed off.

“He felt a little bit. I saw it, he slipped when he lost the ball,” said Klopp after the match. “He slipped away, I saw him limping afterwards and that’s why we did it.”

Still, two days later and the manager didn’t seem to have any positive news to attach to Keita’s situation. At his pre-Aston Villa press conference Klopp gave a quick reply to the question of the player’s availability.

“Naby, I don’t know yet, we will see,” said Klopp.

Hopefully, this is just the manager keeping his cards close to his chest and Keita has moved on from whatever knock he picked up midweek.

Klopp could have a midfield decision to make if Fabinho is taken out of contention due an accumulation of yellow cards. One more infraction from the Brazilian at Villa and he would miss Manchester City’s visit to Anfield next Sunday.

That could open up a spot for one of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, or Keita if he’s fully recovered from his knock. But all three midfielders played against Arsenal so Klopp will have some soul searching to do in order to get it just right. It’s another crucial three points on offer for the league leaders.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com