One of the most eagerly anticipated arrivals at Anfield in recent years, Naby Keita is finally a Liverpool player after more than a year of waiting - and already he is showing fans just why Jurgen Klopp was so keen to sign him. The Guinean midfielder will bring great drive and quality to the middle third of the pitch, boosting not just the ability that Klopp has to choose from but also the tactical options he can deploy in any given match.
While the likes of Adam Lallana, James Milner or Gini Wijnaldum can play a range of midfield positions across the width of the pitch, Keita can operate centrally in any role between both boxes: holding, box-to-box or as a more offensive-minded player. For the most part, if Klopp sticks with his 4-3-3 system of last year it’s easy to imagine Keita as one of the two No. 8s: winning the ball in the middle third, quick transitions and then attempting to drive forward from deep. But, at least in some games, Keita should be given a far more free and attacking role to wreak havoc on opponents, perhaps particularly when the Reds are against their biggest rivals or most difficult matches.
Fast transitions
Already in pre-season, and certainly in spells of during 2017/18, Klopp showed a propensity to change up his formation, if not the style of the team. There was a diamond midfield, a couple of variations on 4-4-2 and even a back-three system at times, depending on need. With both a diamond or a 4-2-3-1, there’s the possibility to play Keita much higher than as a true central midfielder, and the new No. 8 could wreak havoc from such a role.
The key to the Reds’ success is in their attempts to win back possession from the opposition and, before they have the chance to recover, strike hard with their talented, fast-paced attackers. Keita can help significantly here in three ways.
Firstly, his ball-winning ability is unquestionable: he’s aggressive, quick in the challenge, fast across the ground and reacts to loose touches in impressive fashion. Liverpool have several midfielders who excel in this area, but Keita will arguably prove best of all.
Secondly, that quick transition relies on good decision-making, with incisive actions to be made right after winning the ball; in both surging through the centre and in playing defence-splitting passes, Keita’s true worth will quickly be shown once competitive action is underway.
Second line
Thirdly, and most importantly for the Reds this term, is his ability to add goals from the second line of attack. Liverpool’s front three are lethal, but the midfield zone—certainly post-Coutinho—hasn’t really been able to deliver as regular a goal threat.
Keita, both from a No. 8 or a No. 10 role, should improve the team’s ability to shoulder more of the goalscoring burden, not relying on Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino to do all the heavy lifting in that regard.
More likely to get into the penalty box with regularity than the likes of Gini Wijnaldum or James Milner, for example, Keita’s drive and athleticism sees him skip past challenges to open up space with ease—particularly enticing given the Reds’ attempts to win the ball higher upfield, thus leaving perhaps only one line of defenders between Keita and the goal.
Rotation is key
Seeing Keita in this role would excite fans, with his dynamism and aggression being perfect attributes to mesh with those already in place—but one of Klopp’s most-favoured attributes in a player is versatility, and in a team is fluidity. Particularly with the midfield trio, there has always been an element of freedom included, whereby even the deepest may suddenly surge forward and another fills in.
Jordan Henderson, in this regard, is perhaps the alternative to Keita, and it would be no surprise to see them dovetail brilliantly at times during the coming campaign. Henderson shares plenty of characteristics with Keita, though the latter is somewhat faster, more controlled in the dribble and has shown a greater aptitude for scoring goals. But, Henderson is equally capable of making those challenges, and immediate passes, from higher upfield.
Don’t be surprised to see a 4-2-3-1 type of system at times, with Keita given licence to destroy and create from the same part of the pitch—and when he does fill in defensively, Henderson might be the perfect foil to step forward and keep the same level of pressure on the opposition defence. Klopp is building his options nicely, and this interchangeability between current captain and new arrival is just another positive in an already-exciting summer.
