NAPLES, Italy — Naby Keita was taken to hospital as a precaution after injuring his back during Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at Napoli on Wednesday, according to the club.
Keita was carried off on a cart inside 19 minutes of play at the Studio San Paolo, having injured himself in a duel with match-winner Lorenzo Insigne.
The midfielder was complaining of severe back pain when being attended to by Liverpool’s medical staff.
A source told ESPN FC that Liverpool are staying in Italy on Wednesday night and hope Keita will fly back to Merseyside with the rest of the squad on Thursday.
But the source said that it is currently too early to determine whether the midfielder is a doubt for Sunday’s match with Manchester City at Anfield.
“Keita was transferred to a local hospital with the club doctor, where — with the midfielder’s agreement — he underwent a number of precautionary health checks to assess his condition,” a statement on Liverpool’s website said.
“No decision has yet been taken on when the 23-year-old will be discharged.”
Keita was replaced by Jordan Henderson as Liverpool went on to lose 1-0 to the Serie A side.