Liverpool receive huge injury boost as Keita returns to training

Naby Keita returned to Liverpool training on Thursday, putting him in contention to face Bournemouth this weekend.

The Reds will be looking to respond from back-to-back defeats on Saturday lunchtime, as they welcome the relegation-threatened Cherries to Anfield.

Keita missed the defeats to Watford and Chelsea through injury, but he is now back in the fold, having returned to full fitness.

Read Liverpool Verdict

Keita has become one of Liverpool’s most divisive players, but this is undoubtedly a big boost.

While the Guinean has too often underwhelmed in a Reds shirt, he is still a classy footballer who offers plenty both on and off the ball. In his last appearance against West Ham, when he was widely criticised, Keita still made the second-most key passes and also made four tackles.

I would personally start the 25-year-old against Bournemouth, giving him a chance to audition for the huge Champions League game at home to Atletico Madrid next Thursday.

If he shines, Jurgen Klopp could consider him for that game, although it wouldn’t surprise me to see the manager go with a more sturdy midfield of Fabinho, James Milner and Gini Wijnaldum, against a physical Atletico outfit.

This is assuming Jordan Henderson still isn’t back at that point.