Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita grabbed his chance with both hands after manager Jurgen Klopp gave him a rare start against Bournemouth yesterday.
As well as scoring the second in the 3-0 win, he provided the assist with an excellent through ball for Mo Salah’s goal to make it three early in the second half. Fans on Twitter have praised the 24-year-old for his man of the match display:
Top player!
— Rajoun Buddo (@Jon_Van_Dijk) December 7, 2019
He was brilliant today!
— Benny (@BennyLFC_) December 7, 2019
Good performance today, but needs to give a performance like that more than once every six months before he can even be considered for proper starting 11 duties
— Tyrone Mings (@Ggg70706822) December 7, 2019
Never doubted him.
— Pratyush (@janglisherr) December 7, 2019
Big class
— Hammat Diop (@HammatDiop) December 7, 2019
Nabi is great, he was a key player back in Germany for Leipzig and we were actually sad that he left the club even for the high sell price. There is no real replacement for a player like him for the quality, spirit and fight he brings on the pitch. He will do great on LFC soon to
— Patrick M. (@Patrick10_M) December 7, 2019
He makes it look so easy too.
Not gonna slander certain someone but they drive me nuts going in circles when plenty of passes are open.
Overall great performance from everyone— AKIANO (@AKIANO) December 7, 2019
He has an element of risk in his game
Which other players does not provide in our team
This has led to some great unpredictable passes that helped us today#YNWA— Ameen (@Ameen_LFC) December 7, 2019
The way he drives fowards and pick salah out. Theres a lot more to see from naby deco keita
— LFCMO (@LFCMO1) December 7, 2019
It was a very good performance from Keita, but he will now need to start performing at that level on a consistent basis. Injuries have certainly curtailed his game time over the past eighteen months but there also appears to be a lack of trust from Klopp to start him in the big games.
The Guinean will need to prove to the Reds boss that he can do it against the best teams in the league, but his display at the Vitality Stadium yesterday showed what he can bring to the table if he is selected more often.