2020/2021 is make or break for Naby Keita
Naby Keita faces a key season with Liverpool.
Our second in the series of player profiles is another midfielder. At 25, Naby lad is in the prime of his footballing career. He put up exceptional numbers during his two year stint at RB Salzburg before moving on to the Bundesliga with upstarts RB Leipzig.
After two highly acclaimed seasons with RB, he caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp and everyone else around the world.
Keita has had some injury setbacks since coming to Liverpool in summer 2018. With flashes of dynamism and brilliance in the middle of the park, the Guinea international is smart on the ball and is probably the best dribbler of all Klopp’s midfield options.
The lad has great vision for passes long over the top and into channels along the wings. He also has the ability on the ball to take opponents as well as possessing the strength to drive forward through defenses.
A constant attacking threat, he is often double teamed, and occasionally draws the midfield trap, where he remains composed and confident while cracking on to find the quick outlet to the wings or up the middle to Roberto Firmino.
Keita has been compared to the likes of N’Golo Kante in his skills and passing ability, and his strength to hold defenders off the ball when he is in possession.
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He adds the most potent threat up the middle for Klopp and, since the restart, shown the skills and nous on the ball to warrant Klopp’s faith in him to come good. We get the lowdown on Naby lad, from Noel Squires of the Echo.
Keita has also learned to play good solid defense in the midfield press, and is capable of playing in a defensive holding midfield role when called upon to do so. Paired next to Fabinho or Gini Wijnaldum in a double six scenario (4-2-3-1) has seen him make good on defending through the middle of the park.
This is a make or break season for the Guinean midfielder. Should he stay fit and healthy, he could well be on his way to a break-out season for Liverpool, justifying the gaffer’s unwavering belief and faith in him.
Look for him to seriously challenge for a starting nod with Wijnaldum and POTY Jordan Henderson. A solid season of strength through the middle of the pitch will go a long way to take pressure off the wings and the world-class fullback tandem bombing forward. Consistent goal scoring from the midfield will also make the deadly triumvirate up top even more difficult to defend.
Last season we saw Klopp take the leash off Henderson, to good effect. If Jurgen does the same with Naby Keita, there are no limits to how well he may contribute in attack. A healthy and fit season will solidify his value to the team and secure his future for the long term.
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Regardless, this is a player who is sure to perform when called upon and give 110% to the effort as Klopp has assigned him to – whether in defensive holding role or something more advanced.