Explanation provided for Naby Keita’s absence from Liverpool squad to take on West Brom

An explanation for Naby Keita’s complete omission from Liverpool’s matchday squad to take on West Bromwich Albion has this evening been forthcoming.

Liverpool vs West Brom

Jurgen Klopp’s men are set to get the defence of their title back underway shortly.

The Reds will welcome Sam Allardyce’s West Brom to Anfield, for their first post-Christmas Premier League outing.

Liverpool head into proceedings aware that a win would see them open up a 5-point gap over the chasing pack atop the English top-flight table, amid a stellar recent spell of form.

The Merseysiders’ last outing saw them run riot at Selhurst Park, to eventually down Crystal Palace by a staggering seven goals to nil.

West Brom, on the other hand, saw life post-Slaven Bilic get off to an altogether underwhelming start in their own prior fixture, when the Baggies crumbled to a 3-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa.

‘A little bit injured’

As such, it almost goes without saying that it is the hosts who enter this evening’s exchanges at Anfield as favourites to emerge with all 3 points.

The XI tasked with getting the better of West Brom, meanwhile, was revealed a short time ago, with Jurgen Klopp having opted for two changes to the side which so impressed en route to victory at Palace.

First, Mohamed Salah returns to starting duties, at the expense of Takumi Minamino.

Curtis Jones is also handed his latest midfield berth, in place of Naby Keita:

Today’s line-up to face @WBA…#LIVWBA

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 27, 2020

Whilst Keita’s exclusion from Liverpool’s starting XI this evening has not come as too much of a shock, though, what has is his complete absence from the Reds’ matchday squad.

The Guinean impressed at Selhurst Park last weekend, having returned from a previous spell on the sidelines.

It will therefore no doubt come as a major source of concern to hear that Keita’s omission versus West Brom has in fact come on the back of yet another fitness problem for the midfielder.

Speaking ahead of kick-off on Merseyside, Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Keita is ‘a little bit injured’, though no further insight was provided into the extent of the 25-year-old’s issue:

Jurgen Klopp on Keita: “He [is], again, a little bit injured, unfortunately. Nothing else to say.” #awlfc [lfc]

— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) December 27, 2020

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This article was edited by Josh Barker.

Source: 101greatgoals.com