While we wait to see how our latest signing fares at Liverpool, former Reds ace Xabi Alonso has offered his opinion on Naby Keita and revealed what he believes he can bring to the team.
Our new No.8 will be looking to make a positive impact next season, as we look to build on last year and continue to compete for major honours.
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Having impressed in the Bundesliga, he’ll now look to raise his game further, and Alonso expects positive things from the 23-year-old while he doesn’t envisage him experiencing too many issues settling in under Jurgen Klopp and coping with his demands.
“He’s a big personality. He has the hunger, the will to compete, and after in football terms he’s an all-round midfielder,” he told the club’s official site. “He will have to adapt to the idea [of Klopp’s philosophy], but I don’t think that he will have many problems because he’s a great player and very complete.
“[Under] Jürgen you need to do [play like] ‘bang, bang, bang’ and if he gets it, he will do well.”
Alonso also went on to discuss Keita’s tactical versatility, suggesting that he believes he’s comfortable either in a deeper role or behind the front three, and so it’s another positive for us as Klopp could use him in different positions depending on the opposition with that versatility becoming a valuable asset to have.
The Guinea international bagged nine goals and seven assists in 39 appearances last season, and so it’s fair to say that we will hopefully add another string to our bow in attack to compliment what Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino already bring to the team to make us even more potent than we were last season.
⚡️ “Naby Keïta arrives. 🔴”https://t.co/IsRD362y9b
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 28, 2018