---
title: "Virals: Bizarre Naby Keita injury mars perfect Carabao Cup night"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/virals-bizarre-naby-keita-injury-mars-perfect-carabao-cup-night/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2021-09-22T07:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-09-22T07:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: Bizarre Naby Keita injury mars perfect Carabao Cup night

An injured picked up by [Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/09/21/virals-liverpool-forward-divock-origi-attracting-interest-from-rc-lens/) midfielder Naby Keita marred an otherwise perfect night for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

The much-changed Reds swept aside Norwich City [3-0](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58553817) at Carrow Road for the second time this season.

This time, a Takumi Minamino brace and a well finished Divock Origi header helped a young side advance into the [fourth round](https://www.efl.com/carabao-cup/) of the Carabao Cup.

Keita was one of the few potential weekend starters [picked from the outset](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-player-ratings-norwich-breaking-21637300) before being replaced at half-time.

After the match, Klopp [confirmed](https://twitter.com/neiljonesgoal/status/1440422932816154628) the Guinean had picked up an injury in bizarre fashion.

> Klopp says Naby Keita hurt himself 'kicking the grass' in the first half, but says they are not too concerned about the injury.[#LFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/LFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) [September 21, 2021](https://twitter.com/neiljonesgoal/status/1440422932816154628?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The 26-year-old, fresh off the back of a screamer against Crystal Palace, was appearing in his [sixth game of the season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/naby-keita/leistungsdaten/spieler/302215) in East Anglia.

Elsewhere, teenage trio [Kaide Gordon](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/09/21/virals-liverpool-set-to-hand-efl-strugglers-100000-windfall/), Conor Bradley and Tyler Morton all shone for the Reds – the latter as a replacement for Keita.

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

Thankfully, it would appear the substitution was mainly in order to protect the ace and not due to a more serious issue – especially with Harvey Elliott and Thiago already [ruled out](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12412874/thiago-alcantara-liverpool-midfielder-to-miss-next-two-games-due-to-injury).

Realistically the midfielder would’ve been one of the first to be sacrificed later on in the clash, given the likelihood of i[nvolvement at Brentford](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/match/2021-22/men/fixtures-and-results) on Saturday.

Nevertheless, injuries and Keita have gone [hand in hand](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/naby-keita/verletzungen/spieler/302215) on Merseyside and Kopites everywhere would’ve felt a sense of inevitability at the half-time replacement.

Knock aside, Liverpool into the hat for the next round, giving [minutes to fringe players](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/444184-team-news-confirmed-liverpool-line-up-v-norwich-city) and getting important goals into Origi and Minamino was the perfect outcome from the encounter.