How Naby Keita is already a vital piece of Liverpool jigsaw

Liverpool fans had to wait a long time to see Naby Keita in a red shirt, but my oh my, could he be worth all the hype.

What the Reds have in Keita is a player perfect for Jurgen Klopp’s system. He is somebody capable of breaking lines, committing defenders, and bridging the midfield and forwards.

Although Liverpool enjoyed some success at home last season, they still struggled to break down deep lying teams. Despite going unbeaten at Anfield in the league, they dropped 14 points thanks to 7 draws.

If Klopp is to turn his side into genuine title contenders, they need to turn those draws into wins. Easier said than done, at least that is before you factor Keita into the equation.

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Against West Ham United in the first competitive game of the season, the Guinean provided fans with a glimpse of his quality. Despite the assist going to Andy Robertson for his cross, make no bones about it, the goal was only possible thanks to Keita and hisvision.

In analyzing the goal, the difference between the ex-Bundesliga man and the rest of Liverpool’s midfielders can be seen. It all comes down to timing, and an understanding of how to think two or three steps ahead.

Instead of playing the ball to Robertson’s feet, as the majority would, Keita delays the pass but with forward momentum. The result is that he commits another defender and creates the space in behind for Robertson to cross from the perfect angle. This goal is just one small example of what the former RB Leipzig man will offer to Liverpool this season.

It is true that if you take his individual attributes in isolation they are not spectacular. He isn’t the fastest, the best passer around, or the most skillful on the team. However, he is close to each of these things and when combined it makes for one hell of a footballer.

Keita is a player that will create huge headaches for opposition managers. By the Christmas period, it is likely teams will start to try and formulate plans not only for Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, but also for Keita.

The problem they’ll face? It’s near impossible to have a plan for all of them. The midfielder can play between the lines, he can link the forwards in a variety of ways from a number of starting positions. If he isn’t making an impact in an advanced area, he can drop deeper and run at you. Everything is always forwards.

Focus on Keita, and you might lose track of one of the forward three. It’s a puzzle very few teams will be able to solve. Without doubt, the dynamic midfielder is a pivotal part of Klopp’s overall plan for success. This is in no part why he was so determined to sign the player, even if it meant waiting a year.

In fact, the gaffer may even believe that the player and his unique skillset is so important that he didn’t want anybody getting too much of a look at him in preseason.

Keita was held out of friendlies against both Manchester clubs during the US tour. The issue quoted was a stiff neck from the plane ride, but let’s be honest, that doesn’t take you over a week to recover from.

What may be more likely is that Klopp wanted Keita to be a complete unknown quantity for as long as possible. You can’t plan to deal with something if you don’t know it exists.

This season plans to be incredibly exciting. Liverpool have a special side that has only improved this off-season. If the likes of Keita adapt quickly to the Premier League then all that can be said to opponents is “all the best”!