Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that two Liverpool players will be unavailable for Monday’s match against Leicester.
Bobby Firmino hasn’t played since a 6-1 victory over Leeds in mid-April, and Naby Keita hasn’t played since a goalless draw at Crystal Palace in late February.
The pair will be absent for the Reds’ final Premier League game of the season, according to the manager, who stated in his pre-match press conference on Friday morning (via Liverpool Echo): “They are not in team training.”
“Bobby appeared close but was unavailable for the weekend.” Following the Leicester game, he will participate in team training. And no, Naby.”
With both Firmino and Keita’s contracts expiring next month (Transfermarkt), and the former already confirming that he’ll be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, there are only two more games in which they could play for the club.
It would be a shame if neither of them gets at least one more appearance for the Reds so that the Kop can express their gratitude for what they’ve given to the club during their time on Merseyside.
The home game against Aston Villa on Saturday week is their final game at Anfield before leaving, so fans will be hoping that the duo will be fit enough to play that day, though the ongoing pursuit of a top-four finish leaves Klopp with no room for sentimental selection.
Keita’s time at Liverpool has been marred by a string of injuries, with the midfielder missing no fewer than 18 games in his five years with the club (Transfermarkt).
Let’s hope they haven’t already played their final games in a red shirt, both for the sake of the two players and the team.
