Liverpool fans are thrilled to welcome their new number 8, Naby Keita, to Anfield.
Keita was unveiled in a Liverpool strip for the first time yesterday afternoon, almost a year after agreeing a deal which would bring to Anfield from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
The Guinea International will wear the club’s number 8 shirt in his debut season on Merseyside, becoming the first player to don the iconic jersey since the departure of club legend Steven Gerrard in 2014.
Gerrard presented Keita with the shirt ahead of the start of his career with Liverpool, and the midfielder said he was both surprised and honoured to be given the shirt.
New season. New player. New number.
KeΓ―ta + No.8 now available via @LFCRetail: https://t.co/T6TD9iKCZP pic.twitter.com/mxeXIWqkBx
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 27, 2018
“It was an incredible day for me. He [Gerrard] gave me the number eight jersey. When it happened, it was a surprise and I didn’t expect it,” Keita told the club website.
“When he came in, I looked and him and said ‘Wow’ because he is a legend. He is somebody who always showed respect, who gave his all on the pitch, somebody who is loved here.
“If somebody like that gives you his shirt number, it’s not to play around with, it is to try and do as much as he did – that’s my motivation.”
Given it’s former owner, wearing the number 8 shirt comes with a lot of responsibility for Keita.
Gerrard spent 17 seasons at Anfield between 1998-2014, making 710 appearances and scoring 186 goals.
He helped the Reds lift the Champions League in 2004/05, as well as two FA Cups, three League Cups and the Europa League, and the now Rangers boss is widely considered as one of, if not the, club’s greatest ever players.
Big boots to fill for the new number eight, however the Liverpool fans have all the faith he can do just that …
https://twitter.com/Oliver__Bond/status/1011928607512555521
https://twitter.com/LFC_LION/status/1010928906638159872
https://twitter.com/FalseFirmino/status/1011927718034903040
Steven Gerrard hands over his famous number 8 shirt to Naby Keita. Fantastic. π΄ pic.twitter.com/IwKyB1dOtm
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) June 27, 2018
Gerrard x Keita π₯
Past x Present
Linked by the number 8.
Will Naby be able to put his own stamp on the number π¬ pic.twitter.com/E4uiZaUfAD— TayDzn (@OwenTay_) June 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/MollyMc_lfc/status/1011929786590130177
Keita on Gerrard handing the iconic 8 shirt to him:
'If somebody like that gives you his shirt number, it's not to play around with, it is to try and do as much as he did β that's my motivation.' pic.twitter.com/bs55ojFGbR
— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) June 28, 2018
Looks like Naby Keita will wear our iconic number 8. He really deserved it. He had a good vision, good passes, pacy, and also can make a solo goal. Hope he will be our next Gerrard.
— ππ π΅πΈ (@MagicalMo_) June 25, 2018
