Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has denied reports Naby Keita is being put up for sale.
A combination of illness and various injury issues - including a two-month spell on the sidelines with an ankle problem - have restricted Keita to just 714 minutes of action across 16 appearances this season.
"A lot of things in this year have been really tricky," said the Reds manager, whose team are at Manchester United on Sunday.
"We've had to change the team often, then at the moment we have to go for stability, which is what we need right now.
"Look at United. I think their defence has played around 20 games together, and that means they can make changes elsewhere because they have a proper basis.
"We have never had that. On top of that, making two or three changes in midfield just doesn't work out in football.
"People say 'try it', and you can try but only if you are sure it could nearly work out."
Klopp added: "You need stability in a football team. Other teams are too good to allow you to make eight or nine changes.
"That has hurt a few of our players this year. Naby was injured and it took a while for him to come back.
"He trains really well, I have to say, like a lot of other players he looks really well in training but this year we need stability.
"We will make changes from time to time, definitely, but it's not like we can change seven, eight, nine players and expect to win a game.
"But the long-term future of Naby Keita from my point of view is here, yes. "
