KLOPP’S FAITH IN KEITA FAILS

JURGEN KLOPP’S enthusiasm leapt out as he explained a team selection that had one eyebrow-raising inclusion. There was no Thiago Alcantara, after his assured display in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Arsenal. Nor was there Roberto Firmino, whose presence in Liverpool European games is almost taken for granted. There was, however, a spot for Naby Keita and Klopp was gushing in his appraisal. ‘I could not avoid him any more with all the training performances and that is the result of it,’ said Klopp. ‘Naby brings special things in. Real Madrid are man-marking and defending so we need dribblers, people who can turn, make the next situation a big advantage.’ Klopp has huge faith in the Guinea international, a man who once held the distinction of being Liverpool’s record signing. The German was so determined to land Keita, Liverpool paid £52million for him in 2017 and were prepared to let him stay at RB Leipzig for another 12 months. If you look at Keita’s clips online, all those qualities that Klopp mentioned are apparent. In his Liverpool career, though, there have been only sporadic flashes of excellence, so this was a chance to change: in the biggest game of their campaign, it was time for Keita to shine. The 26-year-old ended up making headlines but they were not in the way that Klopp expected; four minutes before the end of the first half, with Liverpool on the ropes — puffing and wheezing and clinging on like a desperate boxer in a title fight — up flashed the No 8 on the substitute board. Off Keita skulked, head down. He didn’t look at Klopp as he trudged away; his manager didn’t look at him. There was no sign of injury for a player who has struggled with fitness issues — he has had just 141 minutes in all competitions in 2021 — and Klopp confirmed his decision was tactical. ‘It’s not a big story,’ Klopp said afterwards. ‘I don’t like it (being asked). He wasn’t the only one. I could have done a few more changes in that moment.’ But he chose Keita and the fact it was done so close to the interval illustrated Klopp’s exasperation. Everything he wanted to see — the running, the fighting, the pressing and dribbling — was replaced by inertia. Keita started on the periphery and never moved off it. The breaking point came when he stood off Toni Kroos in the 36th minute. Kroos pinged another ball forward, Trent AlexanderArnold erred and Marco Asensio pilfered Real’s second goal. It was as bad a display as Liverpool have produced in Europe on Klopp’s watch, lethargic and riddled with errors. On a night when Liverpool needed composure and calmness, they moved the ball as if it was a hot potato. It was inexplicable and it may well have extinguished their hopes of winning silverware this season.