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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Theo Squires

'Didn’t go so well' - Naby Keita makes Liverpool career admission and shares Jurgen Klopp injury reaction

Naby Keita has conceded his Liverpool career ‘didn’t go so well’ following his move to Werder Bremen.

The Guinea international joined the Reds from RB Leipzig in a £52.75m switch in the summer of 2018. But while he would win every major honour at Liverpool, injuries ultimately limited his impact.

Making 129 appearances for the Reds in total as a result, he would register just 13 appearances in his final season at Anfield. Starting only three times in the Premier League, his last appearance came in late-February when he was substituted at half-time away at Crystal Palace following a dismal showing.

Released at the end of his contract this summer, the 28-year-old returned to the Bundesliga as he surprisingly joined Werder Bremen on a free transfer. Winning promotion to the German top-flight in 2022, they finished 13th in their first year back in the top-flight - three points above the relegation play-off place.

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Reflecting on his time at Liverpool, Keita paid tribute to Jurgen Klopp as he revealed how his former manager helped him cope with his injury problems.

“He (Klopp) is a very good coach and a really good person,” the 28-year-old told BILD, translated by Sport Witness. “Whenever I was injured, he took care of me.

“He kept telling me, ‘You are strong, never give up!’ That helped me. Even though things didn’t go so well for me in Liverpool because of my injuries, I’m very grateful to him.”

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