Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita returned from Naples alone from his team mates having undergone two scans to ensure he did not suffer spinal damage in the Champions League loss to Napoli.
Keita underwent both a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CAT scan after being stretched off in the 16 minute of the 1-0 defeat.
Earlier claims that doctors were testing Keita for a possible heart problem were dismissed by his club and Italian medics. “Keita’s just been discharged,” Ciro Mauro of the Cardarelli hospital’s cardiology unit told Naples’ Radio Marte.
“He’s got a flight to Liverpool at 2pm. He didn’t have a cardiologic problem, it was a strong back trauma. He had an MRI and CAT scan to rule out any problems to his spine.
“It is not related to a cardiovascular problem. The player was serene when he left and the Naples doctors have given him a good bill of health.”
Mauro even joked the doctors considered keeping Keita longer so he would not be able to play a part in the return fixture. “We’ve recommended a long period of recovery so that he won’t play in Liverpool-Napoli,” he said.
Although Keita was not discharged in time to join his team mates’ return flight to Liverpool, he returned by private jet shortly later. He has not been ruled out of their match with Manchester City, although Jordan Henderson is expected to start in his place.
Vice-captain James Milner summed up the bad mood after defeat to Napoli, admitting the poor performance while claiming City’s visit is the perfect opportunity to make amends.
Milner took to social media to make his point, saying: “We weren’t good enough, Sunday’s game is ideal to show a reaction.”
Liverpool are level on points with City thanks to an improvement in defence – Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez were the best players in Italy despite the defeat.
But the front three of Salah, Mane and Firmino have not yet discovered last year’s form. They will now need to be at the top of their game to overcome Guardiola’s City.
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Klopp said afterwards that he accepted blame for the Naples performance. Although he also criticised the performances of Mane and Firmino.
