Liverpool lost midfielder Naby Keita to injury early on against Napoli—but his absence could be much shorter than first feared.
Keita got the nod from Jurgen Klopp to start ahead of captain Jordan Henderson in Naples, with Gini Wijnaldum reprising his deeper role.
The new signing didn’t get off to the best of starts, misplacing a few passes and generally playing in keeping with the rest of the team on the night, but it was still of great concern when he went down injured.
Off the ball and with nobody around him, Keita crumpled to the ground and didn’t move again—even stretchered off the pitch on a cart.
Late last night it emerged that the midfielder had headed to hospital for tests, with a back issue seemingly flaring up.
But now Keita is back with the Liverpool squad having been given the all clear, flying home with the rest of the players.
Indeed, the Mirror‘s David Maddock is among those reporting that while Keita will be monitored by club physios once back at Melwood, he could be in line to play at the weekend.
The Reds will train on Friday in preparation for Sunday’s match, and Keita will be involved if he has no reaction to the pain he suffered in Italy.
A midfield of Henderson, Wijnaldum and James Milner was in place against Chelsea last weekend, but Klopp may well have wanted to change that up with Keita’s involvement for a home game against City.
Even with Keita involved, the Reds will have to step up their level of performance considerably from Wednesday’s defeat if they want to come away with the points in the top-of-the-table Premier League clash.
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