Liverpool's Keita sent to hospital after leaving on stretcher

Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita was hospitalized Wednesday night after complaining of back pain.

Keita was stretchered off the pitch in the first half of Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Napoli, and, according to a club statement, was sent to a nearby hospital for precautionary reasons.

Jordan Henderson replaced Keita after just 20 minutes.

“No decision has yet been taken on when the 23-year-old will be discharged,” the club added.

Keita appeared to injure himself after a collision with Napoli playmaker Lorenzo Insigne. He held his back while waiting for treatment on the pitch.

He earned the nod ahead of Henderson for the away trip to the San Paolo – Keita’s sixth start in all competitions since joining the Reds in the summer.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has tried to ease Keita into the lineup, but the severity of the Guinean international’s injury could force the German to reshuffle his midfield yet again.

Any potential setback would hurt Liverpool both in the short and long term, with a marquee clash coming on Sunday against Manchester City.