OPINION
It’s not been entirely smooth sailing for Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita since his blockbuster move from RB Leipzig this summer.
The 5ft 7in Guinea international [Source: Transfermarkt] started the season in tremendous form, but has struggled to replicate that in an inconsistent couple of months since.
The Liverpool Echo reported that he recently picked up a hamstring injury on international duty, although Jurgen Klopp told the Express prior to the team’s 1-0 win over Huddersfield on Saturday that the setback was not serious.
Once the midfielder does get back to full fitness, however, he will have to live up to the praise recently adorned on him by Reds legend Sir Kenny Dalglish.
Writing for the Sunday Post about Keita recently, Dalglish had this to say: “Remember, Liverpool signed Naby Keita from Leipzig in the summer for a fee in the region of £50m and he is a wonderful player. So, it shows the type of quality at Leipzig.”
For someone like Dalglish to label Keita a wonderful player is a huge compliment for the 23-year-old. The Scotsman is arguably the greatest player in Liverpool’s history, so Keita must have been thrilled when he heard Dalglish’s words.
It gives him a lot to live up to, though. The former Leipzig man arrived at Anfield with a big reputation and, so far, you have to say that he hasn’t quite lived up to his billing.
He’s not been bad by any means, just not the spectacular, all-action midfielder Reds fans were promised when he signed in the summer.
This latest injury won’t have helped Keita acclimatise to English football, but Dalglish’s words of encouragement certainly will.
The Guinean must hit the ground running once he returns from injury if he is to prove Dalglish’s assessment correct, and ensure his stay on Merseyside is a successful one.
