£130k-a-week star’s injury ‘worse than expected’ at Anfield

Liverpool star Naby Keita’s injury problem is likely to be ‘worse than most of us realised’ after he was left out of the Anfield giants’ Champions League squad, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Reds have only won two of their first six Premier League fixtures of the season, but boss Jurgen Klopp has been unable to call upon Keita in recent weeks.

What’s the latest news involving Keita?

Keita was among the big-name omissions from the Champions League squad announced by Klopp earlier this month, leading to concerns that he has a more serious injury prognosis than first feared.

The central midfielder has not made a single Premier League appearance since the new season got underway and only been involved in one matchday squad.

It emerged that Keita had suffered a fresh injury setback ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Manchester United last month, leading to another spell on the sidelines.

Although the 27-year-old has made 117 appearances since joining the Reds for £52.75million four years ago, his career on Merseyside has been hampered.

That is because Keita has missed close to 70 fixtures due to suffering various injuries following his switch from RB Leipzig.

What has Dean Jones said about Keita?

Jones believes Keita could be set for an extended spell out of action despite the initial belief that he would return to contention soon.

The journalist feels the Guinean’s omission from Liverpool’s Champions League squad, along with the decision to sign Arthur Melo on a season-long loan from Juventus, emphasises that Klopp is expecting to be without him for an extensive period.

When asked for his views on Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain not being among the Reds’ European options, Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “I think it just shows that their injury problems are probably worse than originally feared.

“I think, particularly with Keita, there was hope that he would be back reasonably soon. But, clearly, one of the reasons Klopp would have gone for another central midfielder so late in the window is because this problem is a bit worse than most of us realised.”

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Is Keita happy at Liverpool?

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has tipped Keita to consider his future at the club after Klopp’s call to leave him out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad.

There was already uncertainty over the midfielder’s long-term future as he has entered the final 12 months of his £130,000-per-week contract at Anfield.

But those doubts have gone up a notch and respected German journalist Florian Plettenberg has revealed that Keita is unhappy after discussions over a new deal have broken down.

Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund emerged as suitors of the 45-cap Guinea international ahead of the transfer window closing last week.

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