Klopp has been told to axe £52m Liverpool player today, United game too big for him

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Don Hutchison has claimed that Jurgen Klopp should drop Naby Keita for Liverpool’s trip to Manchester United this evening.

Liverpool have an unbeaten record of 18 Premier League games to protect in their visit to Old Trafford.

In order to do that, Klopp will have to get his team selection – and tactics – absolutely spot on.

And Hutchison feels that the German manager should axe Keita from the starting XI in favour of a Curtis Jones or James Milner in midfield.

He told Optus Sport: “I wonder if it’s the game for Naby Keita. Playing in this game, it’ll be 20 minutes in before Keita goes ‘what’s happened here?’ It’s that kind of game – fast, furious and he does like a little bit of time on the ball.

“He has got options. He could play Curtis Jones who’s back. He’s a player we’ve seen and in the Champions League he’s been outstanding. Or he could play Milner.”

Is he right?

Well, it’s a little harsh.

Keita, a £52 million signing by Liverpool in 2018, has had his injury problems down the years and everyone knows that.

By the same token, everybody knows how good he is when fit and suggesting that the Red Devils is too big of a match for him is a little ruthless by Hutchison.

As he showed away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League in midweek, the former Leipzig midfielder can make things happen out of nothing, evident by how he volleyed home from outside the box.

He has also done the same in the Premier League, illustrating his goal threat.

Having said that, Klopp has only started him in three Premier League of a possible eight this season.

So it is possible that the former Borussia Dortmund coach will continue with someone like Jones, who is available, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may also be an option.