Plenty of online debate has been generated among some Liverpool fans about Naby Keita’s time at the club and his future at Anfield, in response to an article written by James Pearce for The Athletic.
The author of the piece, which is titled ‘The Keita conundrum – how do Liverpool get the best out of him?’, also shared it on his Twitter profile @JamesPearceLFC, with numerous Reds supporter weighing in with polarised opinions of the midfielder.
The Naby Keita conundrum.
A long read on his first two years at #LFC, why the third most expensive signing in the club’s history hasn’t been able to live up to the hype and what the future hold for him at Anfield. https://t.co/s66Okym8sZ— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) April 27, 2020
The Guinea international cost Liverpool £52.75m when he arrived from RB Leipzig in 2018 (as per Sky Sports) and he has had a decidedly mixed couple of years at Anfield. He has enjoyed a couple of impressive goal-scoring bursts, with three-goal bursts in quick succession during spells in April and December of last year, but those remain the only six goals he has netted in 51 appearances for the club.
Keita’s time at Liverpool has been dogged by injuries, which ended his first season at Anfield prematurely and have also blighted him on several occasions in the current campaign, with the 25-year-old making only four starts in the 2019/20 Premier League.
These Liverpool fans on Twitter had a mixture of views on the Guinean – one Kopite reckons he is a better player than fellow Reds midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum (a regular presence in the first XI), whereas others have grown frustrated with what they feel is a substandard return on the club’s investment in him:
The guys a top player and when hes fit and klopp actually plays him he plays well he needs constant game time hes better than wijnaldum
— Biglad06 (@biglad692) April 27, 2020
Top player. Unlucky with injuries. Best player at playing the difficult pass. When he has a longer run, Liverpool will be rewarded for its patience.
— Colin Heyes (@thek0p) April 27, 2020
I love Keita, but he’s been unluck with injuries. He brings something different to Liverpool, both in attacking terms, and defensive terms. When injury free, he will cause selection issues for Klopp, which is exactly what we need. #lfc
— Jonathan (@Pinjadapung) April 27, 2020
He is class. Give him some time
— Neeschay (@neeschay1) April 27, 2020
Up to now, he’s been a complete flop. Regardless of why that is. Hopefully he comes good but a big waste of money at the moment.
— Liam (@LiamK119) April 27, 2020
He should try his luck on other trades. Football not his profession. I wonder what JK saw in him. Can’t even handle football confortable, dribbles and take a short that shakes a keeper. @nabykeita a failed dream
— okwutu Rence (@officialokwutu) April 27, 2020
Good enough but what use is he when hes fit for 3 games and then out for as many weeks. Great potential but i wouldnt care less if we moved him on now hes a waste of a first team shirt
— JohnZx6r (@JohnLFC15568390) April 27, 2020
Here’s a shorter read… he’s good but not good enough… sold in the summer.
— David Higham (@Imy1) April 27, 2020
Liverpool fans, do you think Keita has had a raw deal at Anfield and will grow to become a key player or is he simply not reliable enough given his chequered injury record? Join in the discussion by commenting below!
