Advertisement
Imago/PA Images

Liverpool’s Klopp extends Champions League final invite to Keita

The Guinea international who is set to arrive in England at the end of the season could unite with his new teammates earlier than expected.

JURGEN KLOPP HAS invited Liverpool-bound Naby Keita for their Uefa Champions League final against Real Madrid.

Keita is set to switch the German Bundesliga for the English Premier League at the end of the season after agreeing personal terms with the Merseyside outfit last summer.

The Reds will take on Zinedine Zidane’s side as they aim for their sixth Champions League title on May 26.

And the Liverpool boss has stated that the Conakry-born midfielder can come to Kyiv to foster his bonding with the team.

“Bringing him in the dining room and saying: ‘Boys, he will play for you next season!’ doesn’t really make any sense. It’s not my first problem, but I will think about it,” Klopp told the Liverpool Echo.

“I have not been thinking about things like this, but if Naby is reading this and he wants to come with us to the final, he is invited!

“Hopefully, Naby will have a big effect on the team immediately because of his quality.”

Klopp admitted that the 23-year-old who picked up four red cards this campaign, had a challenging 2017-18 season with RB Leipzig who are currently placed sixth with 50 points from 33 games.

“This was a difficult season for Naby in Germany, and for Leipzig, in general but he still had outstanding performances. Maybe not the same number as last year, but the whole Leipzig team didn’t do exactly the same as last year either,” he added.

“But one thing for Naby and us is that he doesn’t play in the World Cup so he will have a full pre-season which will help him a lot to prepare for the season with us.”

Leicester boss calls for perspective amid speculation about his future at the club

Lovren ‘confident’ Liverpool can seal Champions League place against dangerous Brighton

Author
View 15 comments
Close
15 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gary O'Rourke
    Favourite Gary O'Rourke
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 1:55 PM

    Loves Mind games this fella. Hope we batter them, because behind the mind games is a bitter coach who is under massive pressure.

    290
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Augustus hoop
    Favourite Augustus hoop
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 5:11 PM

    @Gary O’Rourke: is he under massive pressure? Seems English RFU have accepted that 6 nations results can suffer provided World Cup performance is there. He’s already made one WC final (playing ridiculously well). He isn’t going to be sacked even if they finish bottom half again this year. Also he’s made huge money and his record means he’ll get another job easy if England do let him go.

    On top of that – what he is saying is correct rather than mind games. We are favourites!

    104
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ron
    Favourite Ron
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 6:59 PM

    @Augustus hoop: Accept for the fact they have gone considerably downhill since he took over in late 15 from Lancaster who let’s be honest built an unbelievable setup. Let’s see how they get on in the next world cup.

    19
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Augustus hoop
    Favourite Augustus hoop
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 7:29 PM

    @Ron: they made the World Cup final – completely outplaying New Zealand in the semi – I wouldn’t consider that to be ‘downhill’ from not getting out of the group in 2015!!!? It was a full 4 years after Lancaster had moved on. I think it’s a stretch to be giving Lancaster more credit for it than jones.
    I dont particularly like how the man goes on, but his record of repeatedly managing/coaching teams that peak for world cups and perform better – not just results also performance (Australia, Japan, England and even s Africa when he was no2) – is surely no open to debate!!!?

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ron
    Favourite Ron
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 9:28 PM

    @Augustus hoop: they made the world cup final 3 years ago in fairness and the lack of expansive rugby they have played since compared to Lancaster era and just after is clear to see. Agree that WC didn’t work out for Lancaster but by the time he left Eng were one the best teams imo. You could see how dangerous they were getting. Also going from 2020 to now it’s clearly a downward trajectory and you can see he knows it. I didn’t question his past coaching achievements.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tyrone Williams
    Favourite Tyrone Williams
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 10:46 PM

    @Gary O’Rourke:
    Such a soccer manager! The game should be played on the field, not in the media!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute G
    Favourite G
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 2:06 PM

    Any compliment from him feels backhanded somehow. Waiting for the other shoe to drop

    105
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Mcnevin
    Favourite Paul Mcnevin
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 3:52 PM

    @G: His compliments have T’s & C’s.

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Cussed
    Favourite Con Cussed
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 2:19 PM

    We’ll have to be extra vigilant then Eddie, won’t we!

    It will be tough and England will have worked out every weakness in our play. I hope it’s a great game. C’mon Ireland!

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ro Molloy
    Favourite Ro Molloy
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 2:51 PM

    They will target us at the breakdown. They way to beat Ireland us to slow down our ball hence the Underhill inclusion. He is a breakdown specialist. It will be interesting to see how Farrell can counter this.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kingshu
    Favourite Kingshu
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 5:11 PM

    According to Eddie have England been favourites for any game in this 6 nations yet?

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hear me now
    Favourite Hear me now
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 6:50 PM

    This guy…sly as they come…thinks he is anyway!

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darren
    Favourite Darren
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 9:01 PM

    Can’t stomach that Jones fella he’s some spiteful ballix who just trys his best to wind up the opposition coaches and players. He has a serious chip on his shoulder with the Irish lads especially. Hope we batter them

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerry McCaughey
    Favourite Gerry McCaughey
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 6:20 PM

    In fairness Ireland probably are slight favourites. As someone else said England will target us at the breakdown. The best way to stop us playing is to target us there. But they’ll need to do a much better job than they did last year. I fancy an Ireland win by 10.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ivan O'Riordan
    Favourite Ivan O'Riordan
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 6:15 PM

    Soft talk from Eddie once again.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute pat seery
    Favourite pat seery
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 5:12 PM

    Probably his Last Game in Charge Won’t be Missed

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Railton
    Favourite Mark Railton
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 9:52 PM

    @pat seery: can only hope….

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Walshe
    Favourite Stephen Walshe
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 9:38 PM

    No matter what this fella says it calculated for his own interests. Basically he’s saying they’re good why wouldn’t they be, sure they play together week in week out. Always a bitter narrative with him never take him a face value awful bitter.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Madden
    Favourite John Madden
    Report
    Mar 7th 2022, 10:25 PM

    He’s playing games again.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Gaffney
    Favourite David Gaffney
    Report
    Mar 8th 2022, 12:25 AM

    For once he seems to have told the truth. Yes, there are always mind games at play with him, but Ireland are and should deservedly be favourites and so what if he says so?! It is also true that his team is a work in progress. That’s obvious. Now all we have to do is prove him right! Wouldn’t that be nice?!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kerrie Roche
    Favourite Kerrie Roche
    Report
    Mar 8th 2022, 1:41 AM

    Eddie in wrong sport..should be in boxing with all his pre match mind games and fighting talk….

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel