Jurgen Klopp was happy with his Liverpool’s performance against Manchester City as they played out a scoreless draw at Anfield, but his side appeared to be missing something from their previous encounters with Pep Guardiola’s side.
Prior to this stalemate there had been three meetings between these two heavyweights in 2018, and all three had been won by Liverpool. For the opening period of this game the hosts again looked like the side who would dominate, but as the game progressed it became clear that they were lacking an attacking edge, a dynamic core, a forward thrust.
Those three victories which fell in this calendar year, but in the previous season, witnessed outstanding performances from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Englishman who had long seen himself as a central midfielder and wanted to emulate Steven Gerrard, was now getting the chance to do so, and he was contributing at the highest level at the game after some disappointing seasons at Arsenal.
He scored one and assisted another as Liverpool became the first team to defeat Manchester City in the Premier League last season, and scored a memorable goal in front of the Kop the first leg of the Champions League quarter final between the two teams at Anfield. It was a Gerrard-esque long-range thump of a strike which set the tone for Liverpool’s displays against Guardiola’s side.
Oxlade-Chamberlain had gone from a player whose best position was not known, to a potentially vital part of a Liverpool side which was on course to reach a Champions League final. But in a Premier League game against West Bromwich Albion he picked up an injury which ended his season, and will probably rule him out for this one too.
Exit Oxlade-Chamberlain. Enter Naby Keita. The Guinean was one of the most highly-anticipated Liverpool signings in recent memory. He was relatively unknown prior to the club’s high-profile pursuit of the RB Leipzig midfielder in the summer of 2017, and this only added to the aura around him. He was talked up as one of the best all-round midfielders in Europe.
He arrived at the club admitting that he had been studying Liverpool’s tactics hoping that he would fit right in to Klopp’s system, and indeed he started four of Liverpool’s opening five games in the Premier League.
His performances were encouraging if even if they weren't the game-changing displays seen at Leipzig, but it was early days. He was subsequently dropped to the bench for the next run of games as Klopp returned to last season’s midfield three.
Recent performances against Chelsea in the League Cup, a few minutes against Napoli in the Champions League, and coming off the bench in the first half against City have seen more potential, but also more errors.
Despite his studies he’s not quite up to speed with Klopp’s system, but he’s the type of player who’s definitely needed in it.
In the absence of Oxlade-Chamberlain Keita is the only player with both the dynamism and the creativity to contribute on both sides of the ball, and at least gives the impression that he might get the odd goal from midfield, unlike the others.
After the international break Liverpool have what on paper is an easier run of games, but ones which will present their own challenges. Huddersfield Town, Red Star Belgrade, and Cardiff City will all be difficult to break down, but are the type of teams Keita could come in and get used to playing in this Liverpool side.
He could be used for his dribbling skill and passing in midfield which could help break the low block — a proponent of the organised chaos used to infiltrate a low block.
He could then transfer this to matches such as the one today where Liverpool were unable to break down a different kind of low block, and begin influencing games for his new club just as he had done at RB Leipzig.
Until Oxlade-Chamberlain returns the club need a midfielder to provide the cutting edge, the scything pass, and the midfield threat on both sides of the ball. Keita is that man, he just needs to show it.
