Liverpool coach excited by Keita

Liverpool's Naby Keita takes on Bournemouth's Jefferson Lerma during the Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday December 8, 2018. See PA story SOCCER Bournemouth. Photo credit should read: Mark Pain/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

by Staff Reporter

Monday Dec 10, 2018. 15:00

Liverpool head coach Jürgen Klopp is excited by Naby Keita's recent performances as the Merseyside club now turn their attention to a must-win clash against Napoli in the Uefa Champions League on Tuesday evening.

The Reds beat Bournemouth 4-0 on Saturday to move top of the English Premier League standings, a position they retained thanks to Chelsea's 2-0 win over Manchester City.

Keita officially joined Liverpool from German Bundesliga club RB Leipzig ahead of the 2018-19 season, making an immediate impact at Anfield. Despite a slight dip in form and subsequent injury the 23-year-old has in the last two games showcased his credentials.

Klopp has been impressed by the Guinea international, but expects even more from him in the future.

Asked on Liverpoolfc.com if he thought Keita and fellow new recruit Fabinho would have this sort of impact so early in their respective Liverpool careers, Klopp said: “Yes, but don’t forget all the others.

“I know we signed these two players but Joel [Matip] had a difficult period; he is in good shape, trains and does everything and then at the end does not play or is not even in the squad very often. That’s difficult, like for Alberto [Moreno].

“But it was clear Fabinho and Naby needed time to adapt. Naby is still not exactly the player he can be, that’s good. But he is really exciting, it’s nice to see him.

He continued: "It was always clear we need all of them. We play [on Tuesday] again, I have no clue in the moment who I can line up. We have to see. We have to recover and do whatever we can to get fresh legs again. Then, let’s go against Napoli.”