Jurgen Klopp leaves Naby Keita out of Liverpool squad as future becomes clearer
Naby Keita was nowhere to be seen in the Liverpool squad for Wednesday night's clash with Wolves at Anfield.
The Guinean midfielder started the Reds' goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday, but having been booked during what was a disjointed first half display, he was replaced at the break by Harvey Elliott.
Teenager Elliott is one of six changes to the Reds side for the clash with Wolves, with Kostas Tsimikas, Ibrahima Konate, Stefan Bajcetic, Fabinho and Darwin Nunez also coming into the side.
Keita is not on the bench, and although Klopp made no mention of an injury when he spoke pre-match, it has been suggested that the Guinean has picked up a knock.
"We needed fresh legs, and to find the right players for the positions," he said.
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"With Darwin it was clear that when he is able to play he would come back.
"There was of course the question of Bobby [Firmino], Diogo [Jota] and Cody [Gakpo], we decided for Diogo for as long as he can, let me put it like this.
"Midfield, it was clear again that fresh legs are needed because of the intensity of the period that we are in.
"And in the last line... Kostas deserves that. He trains on a super level, and Ibou is coming back, so nothing really changes."
Keita struggled against Crystal Palace on Saturday (PA)Keita is widely expected to leave Anfield this summer when his contract expires, and missing matches such as this one suggest he has little future at the club.
Ex-Reds forward John Aldridge tweeted his displeasure about the Guinean on Saturday, writing: “Jurgen has to take Keita off asap folks he’s a liability! Does nothing for the team and he’s doing himself no good for his move away in the summer.”
Fellow former Liverpool star Michael Owen also namechecked Keita in a list of changes the Reds need to make in midfield.
"I think that area of the pitch is going to need a bit of surgery and I think it’s going to happen in the summer – everyone can see it. Jurgen Klopp can see it," Owen told Premier League Productions.
Darwin Nunez is back in the Liverpool side against Wolves (Jon Super/AP/REX/Shutterstock)“People talk about the age of the midfield there, whether Milner or Henderson should be replaced. They are still their best players in there – people say they are too old, but they are still the best players.
“Fabinho has been average this season. Really average. Harvey Elliott, when he came on at half-time, he give the ball away more than he kept it. Naby Keita is just not good enough for a midfielder, in my opinion, for Liverpool. It’s all right fans saying, ‘we need to change Henderson, we need to change Milner and get a new youngster in’.
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“But they are actually the best of what Liverpool have got, at the moment. It might be the others that need to be changed. Considering their age, they have been doing a sterling job and have been for a long, long time.”
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