The agent of Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita has questioned Jurgen Klopp’s decision to drop the Guinean international for the draw against Chelsea yesterday.
In a surprise move, the Reds boss opted to keep Harvey Elliott in the team, meaning Keita was the one to make way for the returning Fabinho. Malick Kebe claims the Merseyside club would have won last night if his player had kept his place:
It’s really hard for me to understand Klopp, you have to be him to put Naby Keita on the bench right now in his form. Your super coach is solely responsible for this draw against Chelsea. https://t.co/alfMkD07mZ
— Malick Kebe (@MalickKebe8) August 28, 2021
Considering Keita has scored just seven goals and provided only four assists in 78 appearances for Liverpool, Kebe’s claim that the 26-year-old would have made the difference is a very questionable assertion.
It is, however, clear that Klopp does not have faith in the Guinean to start the big games anymore. There was the infamous incident last season when the midfielder was taken off at halftime in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.
Whether Keita being dropped will hasten his exit from Anfield either in January or at the end of the season, we shall have to wait and see.