Jurgen Klopp continues to be hugely frustrated with Naby Keita’s injury woes, according to The Athletic‘s James Pearce.
The Guinean has been plagued by injury problems this season, making just six Premier League starts from a possible 17.
Every time Keita seems to find a run of good form, he is struck down with an injury and he is expected to miss Sunday’s clash with Manchester United.
Speaking in a Q&A on Thursday, Pearce revealed that supporters’ frustration with the midfielder is echoed by Klopp:
Klopp said last week Naby Keita would be back “soon” but he didn’t train with the squad on Wednesday.
Klopp shares the frustration of the fans and the player himself that Keita hasn’t been able to stay fit and make more of a contribution.
It just seems to have been one problem after another. Like Matip, nobody doubts his quality but you just can’t count on him over the course of a season.
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Keita certainly can’t be blamed for the constant issues keeping him out of the team, but it is infuriating to see him in the treatment room more than on the pitch.
He has been generally underwhelming for Liverpool in his second-and-a-half seasons, having arrived with such a big reputation from RB Leipzig.
When he does find a rhythm, Keita can be a very effective performer, however, completing 89.9 percent of his passes in the league this season, and also averaging 1.1 tackles and interceptions apiece per game.
That proves that he can be a force both on and off the ball – the problem is keeping him fit for large periods.
