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Naby "Thiago" Keita

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rurikbird

Part of the Furniture
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He got tired after an hour again, but those 60 minutes were mightily impressive. A beast in counter-pressing, his Mane-esque burst of pace from standing start means that the opposition can lose the ball when they least expect it. And the way he carried the ball forward for the Salah chance reminded me of his best games in Leipzig. Combine it with crisp and intelligent passing and this was every bit a performance of a "two in one" player we've been expecting to see since the day he's signed.

Klopp after the game:
 
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Paul Gorst at the ECHO:
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It was a moment that perfectly encapsulated Naby Keita at his best.
The Liverpool midfielder, with his tail up after the Reds had raced into a two-goal lead, carried the ball around 20 yards with conviction and purpose.
With a direct dribble laced with intent, he further unsettled an already beleaguered Brighton defence before clipping a through ball to the onrushing Mohamed Salah.
Salah's shot was easily held by goalkeeper Mat Ryan but it was a piece of play that summed up what Keita provides this Liverpool side.
At times, the Reds' engine room is credited with more graft and craft, more perspiration than inspiration. Many will rightly suggest that model is working to perfection, but Keita offers something very different.
A midfield schemer capable of dribbling and passing his way through packed backlines, the Guinea international treated the Amex like his own private playground.
Pressing high and seizing the ball, he created an assist for one of Salah's easiest goals of the season, before having a big hand in Jordan Henderson's delicious second by once more winning it high.
This was Keita at full pelt and a point to prove, perhaps.
This was Keita also building on the superb assist that carved open a stubborn Aston Villa defence at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
Later in the first half, he dropped deep to take the ball off Virgil van Dijk to begin another attack for the visitors. The Seagulls couldn't get near the 25-year-old.
Brighton's middle men didn't know when to stick and when to twist with Liverpool's No.8 as he continued to find space and wreak havoc.
One impudent drag and back-heel to debutant Neco Williams to get him away from two challenges deep inside his own half was proof of the confidence that was coursing through him.
Making back-to-back starts here for the first time since December - when he was arguably in the form of his Liverpool career - Keita can hopefully now look forward to a run of games to build up a momentum that hasn't always been on his side at Anfield, for various reasons.
After the break, another laser-guided through ball sent Salah scampering clear before he narrowly missed out on his second of the night.
Brought off at the hour mark for a likely pre-arranged swap with Fabinho, Keita departed as Liverpool's Man of the Match, content with his night's work.
The challenge now, as it is ever thus, is to stay fit and make the most of more starting opportunities that come his way.

UPD: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spo...ws/naby-keita-proves-point-liverpool-18565716 in case you like your screen to be bombarded by ads.
 
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Just kidding. Provide a link, eh, Rurik! He needs those clicks!
 
There have been way too many false dawns with him. He needs to do well over a prolonged period, against better teams and for the whole match, then and only then will I get excited.

I agree and I'm not getting overly excited yet or thinking he's "proven" anything yet – far from it. But the performance level in recent games should be acknowledged and he's displayed consistency since the restart too. Like Klopp said, the most important thing now for him is to stay fit. As long as he performs at this level it will be hard to drop him.
 
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Isn't it what Keita does? I mean he's shown glimpses of being a top class player at times but then he gets injured and rinse and repeat.
I'd like to see more consistency from him. Next season is the time for him to show why we paid 50 mill or so for him.
 
He is always impressive against opposition who try and pass and play the ball and give him space. Will have to maintain this form for longer.
 
There have been way too many false dawns with him. He needs to do well over a prolonged period, against better teams and for the whole match, then and only then will I get excited.

Agree Id like to see him start against Arsensl and Chelses to see how he does in games where we dont easily dominate possession
 
Any other barely famous people you'd like to vicariously live through, or just Paul?

I went on a night out with Dave McCabe of The Zutons once. And I gave Jonas Guttierez a lift back to his hotel after he got with my girlfriend of the time's sister.

There's loads.

I wouldn't like to be Paul, though. He got a rollocking off Klopp once.
 
Just needs to stay fit for a season.

Clearly the best dribbler out of our midfielders.
 
Just needs to stay fit for a season.

Clearly the best dribbler out of our midfielders.

Thats true but whats more impressive is his turnovers. Hes not a battling midfielder who gets stuck in and muscles opponents off the ball. He seems to hover until he sees a player over run it or take a loose touch and then he pounces. Feels like hes finally getting to grips with the league.
 
Just needs to stay fit for a season.

Clearly the best dribbler out of our midfielders.
"A midfield schemer capable of dribbling and passing his way through packed backlines". As someone said above.

It's why some of us were really excited when he signed - we've missed that since Coutinho, a player to put defences into disarray by slaloming (copyright moi) through them, thereby creating space for others to take advantage of.
 
I thought the thread title was pretty clever - a play on Keita’s middle name, which is famously “Deco” after another famous former Barcelona player. Oh well...
 
One of the guys who does the Blood Red post match podcast says Firminho, Fabino and Robinson ... all the f'kin time. I assume he knows it is wrong and does it for the kicks or something
 
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