Klopp says Liverpool star was ‘outstanding’ in training this week, still snubbed him yesterday

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Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Naby Keita has been ‘outstanding’ in Liverpool training as of late.

The Reds boosted their Champions League qualification hopes by thumping Arsenal 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night to move two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Speaking to Liverpool’s website after the game, Klopp has revealed that he could’ve started with five or six other players last night, such is the quality of his squad in terms of competition.

But the German manager did include Keita as one of the stars who he could have easily picked, but the former Red Bull Leipzig midfielder never made it off the bench.

Klopp said: “I could have lined up tonight five, six other players who are all in a good shape. Curtis Jones played for the U21s outstanding, Shaq played super, Naby trained outstanding for us.”

Keita, whether he has been training well or not, won’t have been too surprised to be left on the bench last night.

After all, the Guinea international has only started seven Premier League games for Liverpool this season.

Yes, injuries have taken their toll once again on the 26-year-old but, for the most part, he has slipped down the pecking order on Merseyside and averages only 52 minutes of league football this season.