Why Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberain are absent for Liverpool’s clash with Bournemouth

Liverpool have confirmed their starting eleven and matchday squad for their Premier League clash with Bournemouth, but two players have missed out completely today.

Jurgen Klopp has made one change to the side that demolished Manchester United last week, with Stefan Bajcetic coming in for Jordan Henderson. However, the midfield duo of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been left out of the matchday squad.

In their place comes Juventus loanne Arthur Melo, who’s last appearance came during the 4-1 loss to Napoli in the Champions League back in September. Both Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain are out of contract in the summer and it seems likely that both will depart as Klopp looks to change his midfield options for next season.

Keita has missed the last two games with a knock and hasn’t played since coming off at half-time in the goal-less draw with Crystal Palace two weeks ago. In terms of Oxlade-Chamberlain, he hasn’t played since coming off the bench for a late cameo in the 3-0 loss to Wolves in February.

Klopp had revealed that the trio of Luis Diaz, Thiago and Joe Gomez would all miss out when speaking earlier in the week.

Elsewhere, the Reds have no fresh injury concerns heading into the trip to Vitality Stadium.

Klopp told his pre-match press conference: “All three not available [this weekend].

“Different stages, I would say. Joey might be able to train at the beginning of the week; Luis I hope during next week. After the international break, then obviously for both [it’s] possible.

“Thiago we will see. None of them trained yet with the team and then we will see how that develops in the next couple of weeks and we will know more.

“Apart from that, from the last game nothing [new] that I heard about.”