October 25, (THEWILL) – After Naby Keita was stretchered off against Manchester United, Jurgen Klopp revealed that Liverpool are unlikely to know the severity of his injury for another 48 hours.
The Guinean was a standout for the Reds in their 5-0 win at Old Trafford, scoring the first goal and setting up another before being forced off after Paul Pogba was sent off for a rash challenge on him on the hour mark.
Klopp insisted he had no reservations about starting the 26-year-old despite being substituted at half-time in his previous match against Atletico Madrid.
And he was pleased to see Keita justify his selection but admitting that his injury, along with James Milner’s, was the only setback for his team after an outstanding performance.
“It’s a good day, a really good day. After the game, I got told this had never happened before in Liverpool’s history,” Klopp told reporters after the final whistle. “This group obviously want to write their own chapter in the big, big history book of this club.
“We know we were lucky in one or two situations where United could have scored. They could and should have scored the first one.
“But in front of goal, in the last third, we were exceptional. We were clinical, we were ruthless and our high press was outstanding. All these kind of things you want to see worked out great. The difference is we don’t usually score from each situation we have and that’s what we did and why we were 4-0 up at half-time.
“Second half, early 5-0 and the red card. Game over so just control it and try and get home healthy. I’m not 100% sure that worked out.
“It didn’t work out obviously. Milly is injured and Naby as well. We have to see how serious it is. It was very painful but we’ll see. We won’t know until tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.”
Klopp continued: “Naby’s in a great moment. He is an outstanding player. We spoke about the game at Atletico. He played outstandingly well until he made the mistake for the goal from the set-piece and that shattered him a little.
“That should not happen obviously, that is clear. But in such an atmosphere against such a club, when you’re thinking about the wrong things it can happen.
“It was clear we would start him again because he is in really good shape and he proved us right.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
