As much as every section of the Liverpool team has had to deal with injuries this season, the midfield has bore the brunt of the absences. Only three of the nine players for the position – Harvey Elliott, Fabinho and James Milner – have been available for every match in 2022/23.
It hasn’t just been the volume of fitness issues which have been problematic either. Take Curtis Jones, for instance. He was on the bench for the wins over Newcastle United and Manchester City yet had been ruled out for all other fixtures since the Community Shield until he made his return as a second-half substitute in Wednesday's 1-0 win at home to West Ham United.
Naby Keita has been similar, having been an unused substitute against Crystal Palace but otherwise absent in league and Europe. The Guinean is at least part of team training again, as Jurgen Klopp confirmed ahead of the match with West Ham, which suggests he should return soon.
READ MORE: Steven Gerrard sacked by Aston Villa after Fulham defeat
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp hints at dangerous new 'combination' he is about to unleash at Liverpool
However, it looks probable that he won’t get significant playing time with his new team-mates Darwin Nunez or Fabio Carvalho until after the World Cup. Arguably more significant is the fact Keita is yet to play in Liverpool’s amended 4-2-3-1 formation. Finding his best place within it remains on Klopp’s to-do list.
While it may not be best for him, the most pressing need at present is on the left of the trio behind the centre-forward, with both Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota facing lengthy spells in the Reds’ treatment room. Keita may not be too well versed in that position (the left of midfield, not the treatment room) but he has played there for both Liverpool and RB Leipzig in the past.
His four run-outs for the Reds occurred in the winter of 2018/19, which was the last time Klopp regularly utilised a formation similar to the one being used presently. Liverpool won every game, too, defeating Bournemouth, Manchester United, Wolves and Crystal Palace, with Keita assisting Roberto Firmino for a goal in the latter. He also set up Timo Werner to score against Eintracht Frankfurt in one of his three appearances in left midfield for his former club. While clearly not from the same mould as Jota or Diaz, Liverpool’s number eight could do a job on that side of the attack.
If Carvalho, say, were to play there regularly, Keita could start centrally, behind Firmino or Nunez. He finished third in the Bundesliga for through balls in 2017/18 (per FBRef) and playing defence-splitting passes is a key aspect of that role.
One of the most memorable matches of his career saw him feature there (albeit behind a front two). In March 2018, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Leipzig lined-up against Bayern Munich in a 3-4-1-2 formation, with their Guinean midfielder ‘in the hole.’
Although they went behind, a goal and an assist from Keita (the latter again for Werner) saw them win 2-1. He might not have played the position for Liverpool but he proved his worth for Leipzig and has also captained his country in that spot, too.
But Keita’s most likely position in Klopp’s latest tactical framework could be as one of the two men at the base of the midfield. Again, it’s a role he has fulfilled elsewhere more than he has for the Reds, but there is one notable example which demonstrated what he can do there.
By playing a little further back, it enables Keita to make the driving runs forward which are one of his great strengths. In a 1-1 draw with Leicester City at Anfield in early 2019, he started alongside Gini Wijnaldum. Darting forward, the Guinean exchanged a one-two with Firmino (who was in the number 10 role that night) and powered into the box. Keita was then brought down by Ricardo Pereira, the only issue being that referee Martin Atkinson failed to award a penalty.
The former Leipzig man did well enough defensively that night, too. He was Liverpool’s joint-top player for ball recoveries and interceptions, and a decent Leicester side had just two shots in open play.
But as almost always with Keita, the question for now remains not where to play him but is he fit to play at all? Once he is, Klopp certainly has valid options for how best to utilise his talents in his new 4-2-3-1 formation.
READ NEXT:
Declan Rice makes Anfield 'sick' claim after Liverpool beat West Ham
FSG chief Sam Kennedy hints at future Liverpool stadium plan after £80m Anfield Road work
Sven-Goran Eriksson urges Gareth Southgate to name Liverpool pair in England World Cup squad
Liverpool fans left confused by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's declaration of love
Liverpool take legal steps against two publications as Man City fallout continues
