Former Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita is in line to face punishment for his refusal to take part in Werder Bremen’s Bundesliga clash against Bayer Leverkusen after being informed that he would not start the match.

Keita has endured a frustrating maiden campaign in German after his Anfield exit last summer. He has featured only five times in the league, totalling 106 minutes, having been plagued by injury.

The 29-year-old returned from his latest ailment in March and got two substitute appearances in Bremen’s last five matches.

But ahead of their tip to runaway leaders Leverkusen, the midfielder refused to join his team-mates and is now set to face ‘consequences’ for his actions.

‘Naby Keita found out that he would not be playing vs Leverkusen from the start, he decided not to get on the bus and to go home,’ Bremen director Clemens Fritz said ahead of Sunday’s game.

‘We’ll talk to Keita and his agent about the consequences and how to proceed.’

The midfielder signed on a three-year deal for the German club after his contract expired at Anfield last summer. He had joined the Reds for £48million in the summer of 2017.

Keita played out the 2017-18 season in Germany with RB Leipzig before arriving on Merseyside the following campaign.

He was the first player to wear Liverpool’s No 8 shirt after Steven Gerrard and went on to feature 129 times in five seasons for the Anfield club, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists.

During that time he helped Jurgen Klopp’s side win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.

Keita arrived with huge expectations but injury problems blighted his spell at Anfield. He started just two Premier League games this season, largely due to two significant injuries.