Jurgen Klopp has claimed that Naby Keita has taken a “big step” in his Liverpool career over the past week.
The Anfield manager was delighted with the midfielder’s contribution in Saturday’s 3-0 triumph against Bournemouth as he put behind him some mediocre displays with one of his best in a red shirt.
“It was a big step, this game,” Klopp said of his influence against Bournemouth, as quoted by the Independent. “Maybe people liked to talk more about the negative things from the first half with Naby; it was not good at West Ham, that’s no problem. We will probably see a couple of bad halves from Naby in the future, that’s completely normal. But it was clear the whole week the second half [against West Ham] was really important to him.
“The position was clearer and clearer. Today was a really good game. There is still a lot to come because he is still adapting. Sometimes it takes longer, that’s how it is. People lose patience, that’s normal – but we don’t. Today was obviously one of the best games he’s played.”
OPINION
Keita has been one of the few Liverpool players who have disappointed this season, a frustration magnified in the context of how long the club waited for him following an extensive pursuit. Impressive performances against Burnley and Bournemouth in December suggested a corner had been turned after a slow start to his Premier League career, but this was followed by a series of mediocre displays. Keita could easily have been axed following Monday’s draw against West Ham, but Klopp was encouraged by his second-half showing, the best of all the team’s outfield players, and stuck by the 23-year-old. The ex-RB Leipzig ace justified that faith with an outstanding and effervescent display against the Cherries, playing a key role in all three of Liverpool’s goals and suggesting he can be a dominant figure in Premier League matches. His work off the ball needs to improve for him to fully flourish, but Keita is showing he can bring the drive and impetus to the midfield for which he was signed for £53million.