Keita finally makes his mark to reward Liverpool patience
It was the pass to Roberto Firmino in the build-up to Liverpool’s third that did it.
Perfectly weighted with the outside of the right foot. Natural, penetrative, reminiscent of those Philippe Coutinho trademarked in the 18 months prior to his transfer to Barcelona.
Firmino’s subsequent stud roll of the ball for Mohamed Salah to finish will be remembered as Anfield’s assist of the season, but of greater significance was the formal arrival of a new Liverpool midfielder.
Forty-eight minutes of the 26th Premier League fixture had been played. Now it was time to make the announcement: “Welcome to Anfield, Naby Keita. We had been expecting you.”
Until Saturday afternoon’s stroll against Bournemouth, the Guinea midfielder had been present without influence. This was his fourth consecutive start despite that underwhelming contribution.
It proved a reward for Jurgen Klopp’s man-management as – even in the midst of a title challenge – he has persisted with Keita having concluded game-time and confidence were lacking, rather than ability.
“Hendo [Jordan Henderson] maybe could have played. Adam [Lallana] could have played again but it was clear that Naby was pretty much one of the first on the team-sheet but for different reasons,” said Klopp. “Rhythm.”
Such tolerance, patience – dare one say, indulgence – is increasingly rare at the highest level, so it is to be applauded.
The consistency comes from Klopp, who regularly acknowledged Keita had been underwhelming, while arguing that ferociously tough initiations are a means to a valuable end. A theme of Klopp’s reign is gradual integration of signings who must adjust to finely tuned physical and tactical directives.
“We are really demanding,” said Klopp. “The boys have a lot to learn, if you want – it’s not that it’s constantly about that. It’s just that adapting to what we want always leads to a little drop.”
Keita has needed longer than Firmino, Andy Robertson, Alex Oxlade-chamberlain and Fabinho, who were similarly unrecognisable in their early appearances to how they performed once Klopp had spent a few months with them. Keita is still not at that level.
Nevertheless, this was his most confident and encouraging performance since signing from RB Leipzig, the end product with that cutting through-ball to Firmino differentiating it from inauspicious predecessors, even though Klopp felt the real turning point may have come five days earlier.
“It was a big step, this game,” said the coach. “The second half against West Ham was a big step but nobody really realised it because nobody was happy with the game and nobody talked about this. We will probably see a couple of bad halves from Naby in the future, that’s completely normal. But it was clear the whole week, the second half was really important to him.
“This was a really good game. There is still a lot to come because he is still adapting. Sometimes it takes longer, that’s how it is. People lose patience, that’s normal – but we don’t. This was obviously one of the best games he’s played. It looked natural.”
Keita can take further encouragement from the midfield masterclass of Fabinho, who having looked onepaced and lost in his first few games could be settling into the heart of Klopp’s team for the next five years. Without much fanfare, the Brazilian has started to look the complete central midfielder.
Even he was not the outstanding player. Georginio Wijnaldum overcame diarrhoea to excel – the Dutchman having to answer a call of nature at half-time.
Wijnaldum said: “I didn’t train on Friday and I didn’t sleep at the hotel either because they thought I might infect other players. In the morning I was still weak and had diarrhoea. I must say the tablets helped a lot.”
Wijnaldum’s chip after 34 minutes ensured Liverpool won easily after Sadio Mane had headed his side into a disputed early lead, Eddie Howe, the Bournemouth manager, lamenting a narrow offside. Liverpool could have had six but for wasted chances and the woodwork.
It was the calming win they needed after back-to-back draws. There was more than a hint of triumphalism at Goodison Park – certainly from the Manchester City fans – when the champions returned to the top last week.
Liverpool have absorbed the events of the past fortnight and made a concerted effort to reemerge galvanised, not demoralised. “I had never seen a 3pm game at Anfield on Saturday like that before,” said Trent Alexander-arnold. “The scarves, the flags, the banners: it was something that I hadn’t really experienced. This is what we need to push on.”