Klopp lauds ‘great’ Naby Keita & says Joe Gomez looks ‘really natural’ as our centre-half

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Jurgen Klopp was delighted with Liverpool’s showing yesterday v Bournemouth at the Vitality.

The Reds won 3-0, thanks to goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Mo Salah – and just as importantly – kept a clean-sheet in the process.

Dejan Lovren was subbed off with cramp, but apart from that, it was basically the perfect afternoon – made even better by the fact Manchester City lost to Manchester United – meaning there is now a 14 point gap between ourselves and pep Guardiola’s side.

Klopp made sure to single out Keita, Salah, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Joe Gomez, who moved to centre-back after Lovren’s injury and looked superb.

“Wonderful individual performances, the obvious ones like Naby, who was great, Mo, absolutely strong,” Klopp told the official website. “There were many really, really good players but then especially how we controlled it from midfield with Hendo and Millie, that helped a lot. Joe Gomez after a while out of the centre-half position looked then immediately really natural. All that helped and that’s what you need to win a football game.”

Despite our great start to the season, Keita and Gomez have endured difficult periods individually, struggling to get into the side consistently and putting in below-par performances when given a chance.

However, yesterday, both displayed what they have to offer, which is fantastic news as going forward, we can see the pair establishing themselves as not only starters, but key players.

It’ll be interesting to see if they remain in the team for the midweek clash with Rb Salzburg, or if they’re rested and return for the Anfield clash with Watford on Saturday.

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