Liverpool vs Everton: Stop rotating Brexit dross! Must Keita start next game?

Liverpool came up short in the vital Merseyside derby away at Everton and some fans are making their frustrations heard.

And one of those targets, as always, is Jordan Henderson. Henderson can’t catch a break with the Reds and is always one of the main whipping boys when a result doesn’t go the right way.

And boy, the Merseyside derby did not go the right way.

There was no late goal by Divock Origi to rescue a result on Sunday afternoon as Jurgen Klopp decided to leave Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri encamped on the substitute’s bench.

Instead, James Milner and Adam Lallana were sent out to try and snatch Liverpool three points at the end. And it’s this call that people are calling out.

Keita, we were told, needed starts to find his feet with the Reds. And just as he was reaching something approaching good form, Klopp called time on his spell in the starting XI.

The manager prefers to use the Red axis of Henderson, Gini Wijnadum and Fabinho but some days that can lack dynamic energy. Keita was bought to provide that energy, and to see him as an unused sub is certainly baffling.

But Henderson, Wijnaldum and Fabinho are the three playing best right now. Hendo is an easy fall guy for criticism because he’s the least flashy of three, but he’s an important leader on the pitch – which doesn’t always translate into flashy video highlights.

Of course it’s frustrating to watch a side coast to a draw and it’s happened too much this season against sides Liverpool should beat. But, there’s no certainty that Keita starting equals a win for the side.

Support and understanding are two attitudes in short supply right now, but they could go a long way. And if Keita starts the next game and the Reds win, that’s great. If he doesn’t, it’s for a reason.