BRUCE GROBBELAAR

NABY KEITA is the full midfield package and the ONLY player who could have taken Steven Gerrard’s iconic No.8 shirt.

That’s the opinion of former Kop legend Bruce Grobbelaar, who reckons Keita – signed in a £54million deal from RB Leipzig – can be even better than World Cup winner N’golo Kante.

Chelsea star Kante is recognised as the definitive defensive midfielder – a player who has set the benchmark for a position vital to every top team in the modern day game.

But Grobbelaar believes Keita (right) is more than a match for Kante – and the ideal star to rewrite Liverpool history in the famous No.8 shirt once worn by Gerrard. Now boss at Glasgow Rangers, Gerrard handed over his shirt to Keita as his final gesture before leaving his post as Under-18 Anfield academy boss to take up his new role at Ibrox.

Grobbelaar said: “I honestly believe he is the only player who can take that No.8 jersey after Steven Gerrard – I think he’s the perfect player in that position.

“Stevie G was a brilliant player who will always be remembered as a great servant and ambassador for the club and himself.

“And Keita is the only person I would have given that shirt to try and emulate what Steven has produced.

“He’s a beautiful player and I’ve already seen the signs that he’s going to have a major impact on Liverpool this season and in the years to come. Jurgen Klopp was very astute in seeing Keita’s ability and potential to develop. He got in fast, signed him, then left him at Leipzig last season.

“I’m certain he’s going to blossom even more and fit into the side with ease. I’ve seen him in the preseason games and he’s been absolutely brilliant.

Hunt

“I liken him to Kante, who is a top player. But, with Kante, what you see is what you get. He will hunt you down and win the ball.

“With Keita, he will hunt you down, get the ball, and then either get in the box and score. He also has the same type of passing range Philippe Coutinho had in the final delivery. “There’s no question he’s the complete package for me and the perfect person to wear that jersey after Stevie G (right). “When Coutinho left for Barcelona, it was a worry, but, after reaching the Champions League Final, there’s no longer an obsession with him. I look at stats. With Coutinho in the team, we didn’t win as many games as when he was out – so figure it out. “Maybe he was an individual player and talent that needed to show himself. But, without him, I think we played a better style of football.” Grobbelaar had a stellar Kop