Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has given an update on Naby Keita’s condition following a robust challenge from Paul Pogba which earned him a red card
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Jurgen Klopp has admitted Liverpool face an anxious wait over the next few days to discover the extent of Naby Keita’s injury after he was stretchered off against Manchester United.
The Reds roared to an impressive 5-0 victory at Old Trafford, their biggest win in Manchester for 96 years.
Keita had opened the scoring making it two goals in the space of a week after volleying home against Atletico Madrid.
He was later substituted after a mixed display in Madrid but was brought back into the side by Klopp after putting in some eye-catching performances of late.
Diogo Jota slid home to score the second before Mohamed Salah scored a marvellous hat-trick to make it 15 goals for the season as they downed a woeful Man United side.
But the gloss of their victory was taken off when Paul Pogba’s crunching challenge on Keita left the Guinean in a heap and earned him a red card after a VAR review.
And Klopp admits the club’s medical staff do not yet know the seriousness of his injury as the 26-year-old prepares to undergo scans on his leg next week.
“With Naby Keita, we have to see how serious it is,” Klopp said after the game in a press conference.
“It’s very painful but we’ll see. We’ll only know tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.
“Naby is in a great moment. He’s an outstanding player.”
Klopp will also be sweating over the fitness of James Milner, who was forced off with a muscle injury in the first half.
The 35-year-old was starting his third game in eight days and the congested fixture list perhaps took its toll on the midfielder, as he had to be replaced by Curtis Jones.
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Klopp confirmed Milner had suffered an injury to his hamstring after being made aware of the problem by the veteran midfielder.
“James Milner has a hamstring [problem], he showed me something was not right,” he added.
The pair could join Harvey Elliott, Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho on the treatment table, leaving Klopp short of midfield options.
Fabinho missed the clash with a knee injury, although the problem is only minor and is not expected to keep him out for a long time.
Losing two key players as the Reds head into the busiest part of the season will be a concern for the 54-year-old.
As it stands, the German only has Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jones available in his senior squad to play in central midfield.
The pair will also have time to recover as Klopp prepares to make wholesale changes to the side ahead of their Carabao Cup clash with Preston on Wednesday.
It remains to be seen whether they will return in time for Liverpool ’s three remaining league fixtures and Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid at Anfield before the international break in November.
However, his Liverpool side are in fine form after their five-star performance, extending their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 19 games.
They currently sit second in the standings, trailing league leaders Chelsea by a single point after the Blues put seven past Norwich on Saturday.
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