Liverpool crisis deepens as Naby Keita faces further spell on sidelines

“It is not easy because we have 15 senior outfield players, I think, in training. That’s obviously not cool.”

News Agency of Nigeria • August 23, 2022

Naby Keita and Liverpool

Liverpool have suffered a fresh injury blow with midfielder Naby Keita facing a further spell on the sidelines.

Keita missed Monday’s English Premier League defeat at Manchester United after suffering a setback before the game.

He has yet to feature this season, having been ill for the league opener at Fulham and an unused substitute against Crystal Palace last week.

The 27-year-old’s absence compounds Klopp’s selection problems with Curtis Jones, Ibrahim Konate, Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, Calvin Ramsay, and Caoimhin Kelleher all sidelined through injury.

Star signing Darwin Nunez is also suspended.

“Naby was injured (on Sunday). We need further assessment, but it doesn’t look like that he is in training (on Tuesday). Maybe (we) will know more (on Tuesday), but I don’t know,” Klopp said. “During the week, it is not easy because we have 15 senior outfield players, I think, in training. That’s obviously not cool.”

The injury situation at Anfield exacerbates a frustrating start for last season’s runners-up.

The Reds have yet to win in the Premier League with the 2-1 loss at Old Trafford, leaving Klopp’s side with just two points from three games.

Midfield has been highlighted as a potential weak area, but Klopp repeatedly insisted the club have no plans to seek further additions before the closure of the summer transfer window.

On Monday, he surprised some by starting with Fabinho on the bench as he opted for a central trio of Harvey Elliott, Jordan Henderson and James Milner.

“We have at the moment five senior midfielders, and we have to start with three,” Klopp said. “We could start with two if we would have more attackers, but we have only three attackers, so it means we start with three, and then we change during the game.”

The Liverpool coach added, “We have to think before the game, and that’s the only reason for it. But this is not the story of the game. It’s just the decision for this game.”

Liverpool were beaten by goals early in each half from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.

Mohamed Salah pulled one back late, but the visitors could not find an equaliser.

(dpa/NAN)

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