Klopp confirms fresh blow as Liverpool star picks up injury during Arsenal thriller

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed a fresh blow after Naby Keita picked up a knock during Liverpool’s thrilling 5-5 draw with Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. 

Keita was recalled to start in midfield alongside Adam Lallana and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against the Gunners at Anfield as Klopp rotated his squad following last weekend’s Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur.

The Guinea international was enjoying a solid game as Liverpool traded blows with Arsenal in a 10-goal thriller which saw the Merseysiders come from two-goals down twice to rescue a dramatic 5-5 draw thanks to a stoppage time equaliser from Divock Origi.

However, Keita failed to complete the game as he was forced off early in the second half after picking up a knock and he limped off the pitch to be replaced by Curtis Jones in the 55th minute.

Speaking after the penalty shoot-out victory last night, Klopp confirmed Keita suffered the injury after slipping over when he lost possession but the Liverpool boss is hoping the problem isn’t too serious.

Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com:

“If Naby’s injury is not so serious, which I hope, then it was a nearly perfect night,”

“He felt a little bit. I saw it, he slipped when he lost the ball. He slipped away, I saw him limping afterwards and that’s why we did it.”

Keita will need to be assessed by the Liverpool medical team at Melwood today to determine the full extent of the injury but he must now be considered a major doubt for the trip to Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

The league leaders are already without Xherdan Shaqiri due to an on-going calf injury, Joel Matip is struggling with a thigh problem and Nathaniel Clyne remains on the sidelines with a serious knee injury.

Mohamed Salah felt his ankle again last weekend and Virgil van Dijk picked up a dead leg against Spurs. Both players are expected to return to the squad against Villa but Klopp will be hoping Keita could still be in contention as Liverpool look to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the table with a win at Villa Park.