Liverpool legend Steve Nicol believes that Reds summer-recruit Naby Keita will be scratching his head if he is not named in the starting eleven against Everton this afternoon in the Merseyside derby.
Keita, who arrived at Anfield from RB Leipzig in the summer, has struggled to establish himself at the club in an injury interrupted first few months on Merseyside.
The Guinean has been restricted to just four starts across the Premier League and Champions League this term and is struggling to recapture his form after being sparingly used since the injury.
However, Jordan Henderson’s unavailability during the Merseyside derby due to a suspension he picked up after being sent off against Watford, could open the door for Keita to return to the starting eleven for the first time since October.
Nicol, who won four league titles at Anfield during his playing career, thinks that Keita will be scratching his head and wondering what has gone wrong for him if he is not named in the starting eleven against Everton.
“That is strange [the fact that Keita has been restricted to just four starts this season]”, Nicol said on ESPN FC.
“Well if he [Keita] doesn’t [start] this weekend, because Henderson is suspended, then he is going to be scratching his head thinking ‘what have I done?’.”
Liverpool are still unbeaten in the Premier League, but will face a resurgent Everton side, who are currently sixth in the table after securing 16 points from a possible 21 in recent weeks.
