Jurgen Klopp's potential Naby Keita headache
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp's potential Naby Keita headache

Liverpool face Tottenham in the Champions League final next month and Jurgen Klopp needs to bench Naby Keita if he is fit for the season finale.

The Reds have defied the odds and their critics by booking their place in a second successive Champions League final after beating Barcelona in the most dramatic manner.

Klopp’s side lost 3-0 in the first leg at Camp Nou and were faced with the prospect of elimination when they returned to Anfield for the second leg.

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All Barca had to do was avoid losing by four goals which, at the face of it, sounds fairly easy given they had beaten Liverpool just a week earlier.

With Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino out injured, as well as Keita, the Reds rocked Barcelona at Anfield, with Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum both scoring braces.

With the final against Spurs set to take place in two weeks’ time, Klopp will be deciding on who will start at the Wanda Metropolitano soon and if he’s fit, the German needs to bench Naby Keita.

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It sounds quite harsh but if the Guinean does return from injury in time, he still won’t be match fit.

Fitness aside, Klopp’s best big game midfield is one that is actually quite unspectacular, with Milner, Fabinho and Henderson the trio that needs to be selected.

Georginio Wijnaldum will feel hard done by but this is the midfield that started against Barcelona and displayed incredible energy levels to pin the Spaniards back in their own half.

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

Keita and Wijnaldum can be used as second-half substitutes when energy levels begin to flag.

Liverpool are favourites to beat Spurs but need to be aware of the North Londoners given the impressive manner in which they booked their place in the final.

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