Jamie Redknapp has revealed that Jurgen Klopp was privately drooling at the impact made by Liverpool new boy Naby Keita after the team’s demolition of West Ham on Sunday.
The summer signing from RB Leipzig made his Premier League debut for Klopp’s side and was outstanding in an advanced midfield role as they convincingly beat the Hammers 4-0.
Writing in the Daily Mail, ex-Anfield midfielder Redknapp explained how impressed he was by the new arrival, who joined in July after Liverpool reached an agreement with Leipzig in the summer of 2017.
“We’ve waited almost a year to see Naby Keita in the Premier League but boy was he worth the wait,” Redknapp said. “I knew he was an aggressive player but by taking the No 8 shirt which has been vacant since Steven Gerrard left Liverpool three years ago, Keita proved before a ball was even kicked that he does not shy away from a challenge.
“He is unlike any Liverpool midfielder in the Premier League era. Keita is a pocket rocket brimming with pace and energy but also blessed with technical ability.
“When I spoke to Jurgen Klopp after the game, his eyes lit up at every mention of his new midfielder. He clearly rates him incredibly highly and knows just how important he can be in taking Liverpool to the next level.”
OPINION
Talk about making a huge impact on your first game. No Premier League debut at the weekend was more impressive than that of Keita, which even put two-goal Everton hero Richarlison in the shade. The 23-year-old was outstanding at Anfield, with his energy, mobility and distribution making the player he has effectively replaced, long-time absentee Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, looking pretty mediocre by comparison. What sets Keita apart not only is his super-smooth running but his touch, understanding and distribution. His role in Liverpool’s opener, scored by Mohamed Salah, was outstanding. Just watch how he waited for the run from Andrew Robertson before laying a perfectly weighted ball into his path on the left hand side of the box. Liverpool’s transfer business has been widely lauded this summer. And rightly so. Judging by how good Keita looks, maybe it has been underestimated how much value the Liverpool transfer committee found while rival clubs appeared to struggle.