Naby Keita missed Liverpool’s 1-1 Champions League draw against Napoli through illness, according to James Pearce.
The Reds had to rely on a second half Dejan Lovren strike to rescue a point at Anfield, with £120,000-a-week Guinean [Spotrac] playing no part in the game.
When asked about the reason for his absence in a Q&A for The Athletic after the game, Pearce said: “Illness the club say”.
OPINION
It’s probably fair to say that Keita has not been the player that many Liverpool fans were expecting him to be when he initially arrived at Anfield. A stuttering period of adjustment to English football, followed by a series of frustrating injuries, have really hindered his development at Anfield, and his inability inability to get a decent run of fitness means that he is quickly being left behind. It’s such a shame too, because Keita has the potential to be such an important player for the Reds. In his three Champions League appearances so far this term he has averaged 2.3 successful dribbles, two tackles, a pass success rate of 93.2%, and a Whoscored rating of 7.06. He has looked dynamic and energetic, and in many ways the ideal all-round midfield talent. That being said, he can’t be anything if he isn’t playing, and the sooner he can get his fitness worries under control, the better.
