Featured image courtesy of Liverpoolfc.com and Sky Sports
Liverpool this morning unveiled Naby Keita as a red.
Steven Gerrard handed him over the iconic no.8 shirt and the fanbase lost the plot!
Hopefully, the 23-year-old Guinean will be able to do the top justice.
Keita discussed the importance of Liverpool’s shirt, his ambition to impress Jurgen Klopp, but also his potential role in the side – which we found mighty interesting.
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According to our new signing, his initial, most important job is to protect the team centrally, before worrying about attacking and transition afterwards.
Many Reds assumed this would be a role more suited to Fabinho, our Brazilian midfield arrival, with Keita in a freer, roaming, creative role – so this is very interesting.
“Firstly I am somebody that plays in a defensive role and we need to start with that,” he told LFC TV, cited by Sky Sports. “But then I need to bring the ball forward and help the attack.
“I’ve always got a desire to win – I believe I’m a winner.
“I am really looking forward to working with (Klopp) but a lot of it depends on me and whether I have the courage to take my chance. And then how I perform on the pitch if I get that chance.
“When I went into the changing rooms, the emotion took over me. I like the colour red – it suits me! “I took the shirt. It’s an honour to have it and to play for such a huge club.”
What’s so great about Keita in terms of his attributes is their in-game versatility.
Yes, he can win the ball back, tackle, shield and intercept – but when his side’s on the ball he can drive, dribble, play incisive through-balls and shoot.
In short, he’s potentially the best central midfielder on the planet and he’s all ours.
Amazing, isn’t it?!