Jurgen Klopp has given Naby Keita some chance of playing for Liverpool against Ajax this evening at his press conference, which was broadcast on Liverpool’s official website.
Keita has been out injured for several weeks now, and has played in just one of Liverpool’s last six league matches.
There are some hopes that he could return sooner rather than later.
And Klopp’s latest update did give Keita a slight chance of featuring this evening, but Trent Alexander-Arnold and Xherdan Shaqiri will be out.
“They are getting closer to being back, [but] not close enough for tomorrow, I think,” Klopp said.
“With Naby we have to check there still, but with the other two, they will not be ready.
“Trent looks quite good, but nobody gave me the green light for tonight so he will not be in it [training]. He hasn’t trained with the team and stuff like this.
“I saw him today on the pitch doing his rehab stuff outside, so that looks already good, but I cannot decide when this rehab stuff is finished.
“I take the players only in the moment when I get the green light and that didn’t happen yet.
“But from my rather experienced eye from what I saw today, it will not be that long anymore with Trent.”
It should be noted that Keita was not seen in Liverpool training yesterday so if he does feature it is only likely to be as a substitute.
Keita may not have the requisite fitness to start in what looks like a huge game for the Reds.
Liverpool can qualify this evening with a victory, but a defeat would leave them fighting for qualification on the final match of the group stage.
In Keita’s absence, the likes of Curtis Jones, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum surely have strong chance of starting.
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