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[THREAD] Analyzing Keita @ Liverpool - Why a 22 year old was Liverpool's club record signing, and how his Anfield career has developed since then
1. In 2016, 21 year old Naby Keita joined newly promoted Bundesliga side RB Leipzig from RB Salzburg. He became a key member in a side that went on to qualify for the Champions League after 1 season in the top flight, attracting attention from Europe's top clubs along the way.
2. Keita played deep in a 4-2-2-2. Defensively, he was a destroyer, averaging 2.6 tackles and 2.6 interceptions a game. Once Keita won the ball, he led Leipzig in quick counters, averaging 2.7 dribbles (2nd most in the Bundesliga) & 1.3 key passes a game.
3. Keita played 31 games (8G/8A), earning the 5th highest WhoScored rating in the Bundesliga and the highest WhoScored rating for players ≤21 across Europe's Top 5 Leagues. He was voted into the Team of the Season and runner-up for Bundesliga Player's Player of the Year.
4. Liverpool signed Keita from Leipzig in the summer of 2017 for a club record £53m, fighting off the likes of Barcelona. The deal would see Keita stay in Germany for Leipzig's debut CL campaign before coming to Anfield permanently in June 2018.
5. In 17/18, Keita led his team in average rating (7.24, 13th in the league) & dribbles per game (2.5, 2nd in the league). He was voted into the Europa League Squad of the Season, ending his season with 9g/7a in 39 apps. across all comps before joining Klopp's side in England.
6. Liverpool often played 4-3-3, meaning Keita would not be playing deep in a double pivot but rather on the left or right of a midfield 3. Keita started the 1st game of the season v. West Ham, a vote of confidence from a manager who often gives new signings time to settle.
7. Keita started on the left, where his ability to not only draw defenders in but play around them and exploit space was readily apparent. Here, Keita draws in three defenders here, creating more space for Firmino to get on the ball before running into space of his own:
6. Keita was responsible for quickly transiting into attack, an invaluable asset to a counter-pressing team. Here, Keita picks up the ball in space, and immediately drives forward and attracts defenders away from Mane before sliding him in. Keita was direct and dangerous:
7. This meant West Ham had to stay tight on Keita, man marking what they saw as a real danger. This constant threat allowed the Guinean to draw defenders around the pitch through his off-ball movement in order to create space in dangerous areas for others, Wijnaldum in this case:
8. In Liverpool's next game v. Palace, Keita demonstrated his ability to stay composed in possession when pressed deep in his own half, before quickly unlocking a defense with pinpoint accuracy:
9. While Keita showed quality early on, he was still adjusting to a new language, position, tactics, and the physicality of England all on the fly. The language barrier initially proved a struggle for Keita to fully grasp the manager's tactical demands early on.
10. Seldom injured in his career, Keita was forced off after 19 minutes vs. Napoli in early October after having back pains. This injury would keep him out for a month, a massive blow for the Guinean.
11. Keita found it hard to break back into a team hot & inform, but made the most of his sub appearances and slowly improved. His stand out performance came in February in a 3-0 win v. Bournemouth where he shined as that complete midfielder. [Full Comp https://twitter.com/TheRedDebate/status/1094368901067087872?s=20)
12. Again on the left of a midfield three, Keita showed his defensive qualities as had the most tackles (7) and recoveries (12) than anyone on either team. Offensively, he completed the 2nd most passes for his team (97, Pass accuracy 90.7), the best of the bunch to Firmino:
13. Keita was benched for bigger games (Man U, Everton) in February/March, a sign he still was improving tactically. He scored first LFC goal vs. Southampton in April and again 4 days later v. Porto. His tactical improvements were rewarded with a start against Barcelona in May.
14. An Ivan Rakatic challenge, however, forced him off after just 24 minutes. Test found Keita had torn his adductor muscle, an injury requiring surgery and at least 2 months of recovery.
15. Short of match fitness, Keita was sent to the Africa Cup of Nations against the club's wishes. He came off in Guinea's second game v. Nigera with shin & thigh injuries that would keep him out not only for the rest of the tournament, but the majority of Liverpool's preseason
16. Keita's lack of match fitness was now compounded with injuries, a combination that meant Keita simply could not be ready for the start of the season. He walked off of training on the eve of the Super Cup with a hip issue that left him out of action until October.
17. When Keita regained his fitness, he again struggled to break ahead of the other in-form midfielders. A stand out performance v. Bournemouth in December marked a turn in form, with Keita going on to start both Club World Cup matches, scoring in the semi against Monterrey.
18. Klopp has stood by Keita, saying he had a few talks with the Guinean “because the player needs to know that the coach still believes in you.” After Keita's performance v. Bournemouth in December, Klopp said, "it was clear that Naby is fresh and can perform like this"
19. Keita was sidelined again in January, injuring his groin during the warmup v. Sheffield UTD and would was out for a month. Upon return, he lacked sharpness and fitness, taken off after 57' v. West Ham, and omitted from the Watford and Atletico 2nd leg squads entirely.
20. Upon the restart, reports from Melwood said that Keita was in incredible form. He started v. Everton, making 1 key pass and 88% pass acc. over 65 minutes. He came on v. Palace for 6 min and 28 min. v. City. At the Ethiad, he had 93.3% pass acc and 1 dribble.
21. Keita's injuries meant his sub v. Everton was sensible due to fitness concerns. Klopp's preferred 3 this season of Hendo, Fab, and Gini all started v. Palace where they were solid, but were poor v. City. Keita came on v. City with the game gone at 3-0, but was a standout.
22. Keita is a complete midfielder. He is not made of glass. He has had to regain match fitness while healing from injuries - "1 step forward and 2 steps back". He has the trust of the people that matter, though. As Klopp said "People lose patience, that’s normal—but we don’t."
I appreciate you revisiting this thread @BabyKeith8i
