Naby Keita’s importance to Liverpool laid bare as Klopp gives injury update

Don’t wait around for updates – sign up for our daily football email newsletter today!

After a rocky first few years at Anfield, midfielder Naby Keita is starting to show Liverpool supporters why the club forked out £52million for him in 2017.

The Reds are currently sitting in second place in the Premier League and are yet to taste defeat in nine fixtures.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are flying and the impressive form of Mohamed Salah is continuing to steal the headlines.

The Egyptian has scored 10 goals already this campaign and is on target to break several league records, with his hat-trick against Manchester United last weekend being an example of how clinical the ex-Chelsea forward is.

However, despite Salah being the standout performer recently, the good form of Keita is not going unnoticed – and his goal scoring stat will leave Reds fans excited for his return from injury.

Every time the Guinea international has scored in two consecutive games for Liverpool then he has also scored in the following game.

Keita scored against Atletico Madrid in Liverpool’s 3-2 victory in the Champions League a few weeks ago and opened the scoring against United last weekend as his side won 5-0.

Where will Liverpool finish in the Premier League this season? Have your say in the comments below.

However, it wasn’t all smiles against the Red Devils as the 26-year-old was stretched off of the pitch in the 63rd minute.

Keita was on the receiving end of a dangerous, two-footed challenge from Paul Pogba which saw the Frenchman dismissed after the referee was instructed to look at the replays on the pitch-side monitor, having initially deemed the tackle only worthy of a yellow.

Given the nature of the tackle and the agony that the former RB Leipzig player appeared to be in, many Liverpool fans expected the midfielder to be sat on the sidelines again having endured numerous injuries since his arrival.

Don't miss a thing with our football updates!

Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news?

Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star football email newsletter!

From the latest transfer news to the agenda-setting stories, get it all in your email inbox – don't miss a thing.

How do you sign up?

It only takes a matter of seconds.

Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this article and hit 'subscribe'.

And that's it, job done. You'll receive an email with all of the top news stories every single morning.

You can find out more information on our email newsletter on this link here.

However, Klopp has revealed that the midfielder has recovered a lot quicker than first anticipated.

He said: “Naby Keita looks good; we were all surprised, but he was obviously lucky so I think he will be ready."

Although music to the ears of Liverpool fans, Keita’s return is not good for this weekend’s opposition Brighton and Hove Albion given the midfielder's knack for scoring in three consecutive games.

Yet it remains to be seen whether Graham Potter’s side can put an end to the record.

  • Premier League
  • Jurgen Klopp
  • Liverpool FC

Source: Read Full Article