So say the experts:
Liverpool the most impressive of the Big Six so far
It is foolish to turn 90 minutes into sweeping takeaways. Foolish to assume an opening-day win predicts a title challenge. But of the four contenders who have played (and won) so far, Liverpool’s performance was the most impressive.
But there was also evidence of Liverpool’s new dimension. A dimension that 2017-18’s fourth-place finishers and Champions League finalists didn’t have. It goes by the name of Naby Keita.
Naby Keita’s influence
Keita, a 23-year-old Guinean, has been Anfield-bound for almost 12 months now. Liverpool agreed to a delayed deal with RB Leipzig last summer to bring the box-to-box midfielder to England a year later. And he’s going to be worth the wait.
Keita brings N’Golo Kante- or Idrissa Gueye-esque ground coverage to a midfield that already had a decent amount of it, but also adds elite ball progression. Liverpool, at times under Jurgen Klopp, has had to choose between the two skill sets. Keita packs both into his slender 5-foot-8 frame.
He doesn’t quite have the passing ability of Philippe Coutinho, but he’ll play as the most advanced of Liverpool’s three midfielders. With the ball, he’ll be the link that connects buildup play to assaults on opposing goals.
On the defensive side of the ball, Keita will be at the fore of Liverpool’s fearsome press. He’s an excellent front-foot tackler and passing-lane-plugger. Liverpool didn’t have to ravage West Ham high up the pitch very often. Keita will help when it faces opponents more capable in possession.
His activity will also give Liverpool numerical advantages in both advanced areas and deeper ones. On one play early in Sunday’s second half, he raced back to double up on Michail Antonio and recoup the ball.
Be afraid mainer! Be very afraid!!!
Liverpool the most impressive of the Big Six so far
It is foolish to turn 90 minutes into sweeping takeaways. Foolish to assume an opening-day win predicts a title challenge. But of the four contenders who have played (and won) so far, Liverpool’s performance was the most impressive.
But there was also evidence of Liverpool’s new dimension. A dimension that 2017-18’s fourth-place finishers and Champions League finalists didn’t have. It goes by the name of Naby Keita.
Naby Keita’s influence
Keita, a 23-year-old Guinean, has been Anfield-bound for almost 12 months now. Liverpool agreed to a delayed deal with RB Leipzig last summer to bring the box-to-box midfielder to England a year later. And he’s going to be worth the wait.
Keita brings N’Golo Kante- or Idrissa Gueye-esque ground coverage to a midfield that already had a decent amount of it, but also adds elite ball progression. Liverpool, at times under Jurgen Klopp, has had to choose between the two skill sets. Keita packs both into his slender 5-foot-8 frame.
He doesn’t quite have the passing ability of Philippe Coutinho, but he’ll play as the most advanced of Liverpool’s three midfielders. With the ball, he’ll be the link that connects buildup play to assaults on opposing goals.
On the defensive side of the ball, Keita will be at the fore of Liverpool’s fearsome press. He’s an excellent front-foot tackler and passing-lane-plugger. Liverpool didn’t have to ravage West Ham high up the pitch very often. Keita will help when it faces opponents more capable in possession.
His activity will also give Liverpool numerical advantages in both advanced areas and deeper ones. On one play early in Sunday’s second half, he raced back to double up on Michail Antonio and recoup the ball.
Be afraid mainer! Be very afraid!!!
