Last summer, Jürgen Klopp signed Mohamed Salah from Roma for a mere £36.9 million, and the Egyptian went on to score 33 goals in 37 league showings.
The speedy forward was named Player of the Year and was easily the signing of the season. Now, the Liverpool manager may have pulled off another masterstroke with the addition of Naby Keita this summer.
Klopp actually sealed the acquisition of Keita last summer for £48 million, but the player joined up with the Anfield outfit this term after staying with RB Leipzig for the 2017-18 campaign. Reds fans got to see the new number 8 in action in the Premier League opener against West Ham United, and there is certainly cause for excitement.
Keita has been billed as the legendary Steven Gerrard’s replacement, and has taken the same shirt number as the Anfield hero. In the 4-0 annihilation of the Irons, the 23-year-old was extremely busy throughout the game and brought even more intensity to an already irrepressible Reds outfit. According to Oddschecker, Manchester City are favourites for the title with bookies, but if Liverpool carry on like this, they could challenge the champions.
James Milner – who provided an assist for one of Sadio Mane’s goals in the destruction of Manuel Pellegrini’s side – said the new signing is only going to get better as the season progresses. Keita has offered another incisive edge to the relentless Liverpool attack, and he will be able to move the ball quickly to the deadly front trio of Salah, Mane, and Roberto Firmino. Reds fans will already be left thinking of what might have been had the Guinea international been available for the Champions League final last term.
Keita has slotted in seamlessly and hit the ground running at Liverpool. If he continues on this trajectory he could end up being the signing of the season.
Source: Naby Keita via Facebook
