Jurgen Klopp explains the reasons for Keita’s inclusion vs. Napoli

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Jurgen Klopp has explained why he chose to give Naby Keita a start in midfield for the Reds’ crucial Champions League game against Napoli.

He told BT Sport, via LiverpoolFC.com“Hendo has played a lot of games now and didn’t have a perfect pre-season. That’s what I decided. I want to have Naby’s specific skills in between the lines.”

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The idea must be to use Gini Wijnaldum as a number six with Keita allowed to roam in front and create.

On Napoli’s surprise selection, Klopp added: “It’s quite offensive but without [Piotr] Zielinski and [Dries] Mertens, they brought one more midfielder in – that’s how it looks in the moment.”

Keita is yet to fully explode into life in a Red shirt but today could be the day – with Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in front of him, that is a real possibility.

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