Naby Keita has revealed he turned down a new Liverpool deal to secure a fresh chapter(Image: AP)

Liverpool news: Naby Keita reveals why he turned down new deal as Reds get Mo Salah boost

Liverpool know they face a huge game against Chelsea at Anfield as they bid to keep their position at the top of the Premier League against Enzo Maresca's dangerous side

by · The Mirror

Liverpool boss Arne Slot only has two days to prepare his side for one of the toughest games since he took charge this summer as they welcome Chelsea this Sunday.

The Reds have returned to training following the second international break of the season, with Slot lucky to have the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones released early from their countries.

The players know they face a huge game against the Blues at Anfield as they bid to keep their position at the top of the Premier League against Enzo Maresca's dangerous side.

Ahead of the big showdown, Mirror Football has taken a look at the biggest news coming out of Liverpool.

Keita turned down new deal

Former midfielder Naby Keita left the club at the beginning of last season, joining Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, and now the Guinea international has reflected on his reasons for departing.

Keita is not enjoying the best of times in the Bundesliga after being banished to the Under-23 side following a fallout with boss Ole Warner - and during his time on the sidelines he has focused on fond memories of his time at Anfield and said he turned down a new contract because he wanted a new chapter elsewhere.

"I had the option of extending my stay at Liverpool but, after five years, I wanted to get more playing time elsewhere," he told the Guardian.

"The Liverpool fans have given me a lot of love," he added. "Even today, wherever I meet them, they show me the same love. They’re the best fans in the world. Liverpool is a family and you never walk alone."

Keita said he enjoyed his time at Liverpool but needed to get more playing time elsewhere( Image: (Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images))

Liverpool get Salah boost

Tying down Mohamed Salah to a new contract is something everyone connected with the club is hoping for - and the Reds may have received a boost towards that goal.

Salah was spared from playing in Egypt's latest game against Mauritania this week amid fears of picking up an injury on their artificial pitch and now that his nation have qualified for the African Cup of Nations, he may not be required to play in the next international break.

The Athletic's report says he may be given a rest from playing for his country until their next batch of fixtures in March 2025, allowing him crucial recovery that could be key in helping him show Liverpool he has the longevity to secure a new deal.

His current contract expires next summer and Salah revealed last month it could be his final season, with no news yet on any discussions.

Mohamed Salah might not be needed for Egypt's next run of fixtures in a boost to Liverpool( Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)

Balotelli speaks about Anfield exit

Why always him? The iconic troublemaker Mario Balotelli secured a shock £16million move from AC Milan to Liverpool in 2014 - seen as a potential replacement for Luis Suarez - but the move didn't go to plan.

He scored just four goals in 28 appearances under Brendan Rodgers in the 2014-15 season before Jurgen Klopp took over and told him he was surplus to requirements - and Balotelli has now blamed Rodgers for failing to get the best out of him.

Nearly a year after he called Rodgers "a disaster", the 34-year-old - who is a free agent after leaving Turkish outfit Adana Demirspor - has now claimed the Northern Irishman didn't play the right formation to play to his strengths.

"I must accept my faults, but the formation chosen by [manager Brendan] Rodgers was not suited to my characteristics. At the beginning I missed several easy chances, then I had fewer chances to score, a bit of bad luck, injuries."

Mario Balotelli has blamed Brendan Rodgers for failing to get the best out of him at Liverpool( Image: Getty Images)

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