OPINION
To say that Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita has undergone a bit of a transformation recently would be a bit of an understatement.
The 24-year-old has gone on leaps and bounds lately after being handed a rare start against Southampton a few weeks ago, scoring two goals in the process to keep the Reds’ dream of winning the Premier League and Champions League double alive.
He was dropped for the 4-1 win over Porto in their second leg tie on Wednesday, with Gini Wijnaldum taking his place in the line-up, but it is safe to say that Keita is hardly going to be sweating buckets after witnessing his display.
Wijnaldum was definitely not at his best, and he was definitely not the same player who kept things ticking along nicely when he was brought on against Chelsea on Sunday. He was a shadow of that player and he looked overwhelmed at times.
The 28-year-old may have played a part in Sadio Mane’s opener for the Reds, and that being said, he was not overidingly awful. However, with competition for places so rife in the middle of the park, there is no way that he did enough to warrant a start against Cardiff this Sunday.
Keita must be rubbing his hands together in excitement after his teammate failed to impress on Wednesday. Klopp must not hesitate to unleash the star once again, as it is clear that Wijnaldum is not up to the job.
Klopp knows what Keita is capable of, and if he can play anything like he did against Chelsea, he would be mad not to start him once again.
Wijnaldum is capable of so much more than he showed, but seeing as he is surrounded by such top-class midfielders, he just cannot afford to go off the boil.
