Klopp confirms Guinea star’s injury amid Liverpool midfield crisis

The Guinea international has suffered an unwelcome injury setback ahead of the Reds’ next Champions League match.

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Naby Keita suffered a hamstring injury during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Brighton on Saturday.

The 26-year-old withdrew during the first half of the Premier League clash at Anfield. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced him in the 20th-minute as Liverpool dropped valuable points.

But while Keita still needs to undergo a scan to determine how severe his injury is, Klopp doubts he’ll be ready to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“He told me, he showed me [the] hamstring. So, I don’t know, we will see; obviously tomorrow [or] the day after tomorrow he will have a scan and then we will know,” said the Reds boss told the club’s website.

“But if somebody feels the hamstring, it would be the first time that he is ready for the next game. So, I can’t see that.”

Jurgen Klopp on Naby Keita:

"It's very disappointing – it's the hamstring – it didn't help because Brighton are really good on the right side. It was not easy for Ox to come in as he is a completely different player." #awlive [bbc] pic.twitter.com/QuNm7ltI9Q

— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) October 31, 2021

Who else is missing for Liverpool?

Keita’s injury blow makes him the fifth Liverpool midfielder to be sidelined after Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, James Milner and Harvey Elliott.

18-year-old Tyler Morton, who has impressed in the EFL Cup this season, could be called upon to provide cover for Klopp’s midfield. Fabinho, meanwhile, could return for next weekend’s trip to West Ham.