Keita's ability has never been in question, says Klopp

Cape Town - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has made it clear that he never doubted the talent of industrious midfielder Naby Keita.

Keita, who arrived at Anfield to much fanfare in the summer of 2018, has been reduced to a peripheral figure and played a limited role in last season's Champions League success and the club's current 33-game Premier League unbeaten run.

The Guinea international gave a reminder of his ability with a goal and an assist on his first top-flight start of the campaign in Saturday's 3-0 win at Bournemouth.

Reds boss Klopp, who has reassured the 24-year-old about his lack of first-team opportunities, admits the relentless form of his league leaders and a series of tight matches have made it difficult to give him minutes.

"Naby had injuries, the team is in really good shape, so then do you change?" said Klopp.

"We are not flying, it's not like we won all of the games 4-0, or 5-0, so we had to bring on a player who helps us with defending set-pieces.

"Then Naby is sitting outside thinking, 'why don't I play?' I get all that.

"So, we stayed in contact, we talked, and we spoke a lot about it.

"But in the end, of course, a player needs to have this evidence that the manager still believes in you. I was never in doubt about that.

"It was just unlucky and in life, you need luck always. He started (his Liverpool career) really well - everybody forgot that - then got injured. And again, we had two really good seasons.

"(I was) never in doubt about his quality."