LIVERPOOL assistant manager Pep Lijnders admits Naby Keita was fortunate to escape serious injury after being on the receiving end of a red-card challenge from Paul Pogba.

The Reds host Albion in the Premier League on Saturday. The Seagulls will be hoping to bounce back after their 4-1 league defeat to Manchester City last weekend.

Jurgen Klopp's side have been in great form recently and Graham Potter would have been hoping for anything that can help Albion's chances of getting a result.

Keita was originally thought to be absent for the foreseeable future, but his injury is not as bad as first thought.

Scans have revealed Keita suffered only heavy bruising despite the tackle forcing him to be stretchered off during Sunday's 5-0 Premier League romp at Manchester United.

The Reds midfielder had opened the scoring after only five minutes having also netted a superb goal against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League in midweek.

And while the Guinean is out of Wednesday's Carabao Cup fourth round trip to Preston North End, he has avoided a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

“Naby has a bruise in this moment," said Lijnders. "We assess it day by day. It’s looking good, so that’s good.

"It was a bad tackle. But luckily Naby's foot was not on the ground so it's just a bruise. It would have looked much worse had his foot been in the grass. A bruise is painful, of course."

If Keita is fit for Albion's visit, he will be one to keep an eye on as he will want to continue his good form from before the challenge.