Liverpool star set for new contract despite bit-part role

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will have been grateful to see Trent Alexander-Arnold remain on the bench during England’s 1-0 defeat to Italy on Friday. 

The right-back remained an unused substitute for Gareth Southgate’s side, and Klopp will be pleased that one of his star players didn’t risk injury for the game.

The Reds have suffered from several injuries so far this season, primarily to midfield players, with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all having missed spells in the early weeks of the campaign.

Henderson himself was only drafted into the England squad as a replacement for Kalvin Phillips, with the Liverpool captain having missed out on the initial announcement after being short of fitness.

Klopp has been forced to play 36-year-old James Milner in midfield more often than not this term, with the ex-England international having been involved in all eight of their games so far.

Keita, meanwhile, is yet to feature this season having been sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Despite his lack of action, the Guinea international is set to be rewarded with a new contract, according to Football Insider.

Liverpool are confident of agreeing a contract extension with Keita

The report claims that talks are already underway between the 27-year-old’s representatives and the club, with both parties confident that a deal will be agreed.

The former RB Salzburg man is set to be out of contract next summer, which means he would be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any foreign club from January onwards.

Keita joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2018 for a fee of £54 million, but the midfielder has struggled to maintain a regular starting spot in Klopp’s side.

During his first season in England, Keita started just 16 Premier League matches, and his playing time hasn’t increased much since.

In total, he has made 117 appearances for the club across four full seasons, with the likes of Henderson and Thiago often preferred to him.

He has also struggled with numerous injuries since arriving in England, which has hindered his playing time further.

Despite playing a bit-part role for the majority of his time on Merseyside, it appears that Klopp is keen to keep Keita at the club and the report suggests that an agreement should be reached relatively easily.

It is also claimed that Liverpool are keen to avoid letting the player leave for free and are instead intent on extending his stay and, in turn, maintaining his value.