GREIGHT TO BE HERE

Keita’s pride as he is given the iconic jersey by his iconic hero

NABY KEITA understands only too well what the No.8 shirt means at Anfield.

It has remained unworn at Liverpool since Steven Gerrard left, not exactly retired but certainly rested in honour of one of the greatest Reds of all time.

So to not only choose it but to receive it in person from the biggest star of them all shows Keita has respect for the Kop traditions but means business too.

Gerrard travelled to Liverpool’s Melwood training ground to deliver the shirt in person, and Keita admitted: “It was an incredible day for me.

“He gave me the No.8 jersey. When it happened, it was a surprise because I didn’t expect it.

“When he came in I looked and him and said ‘wow’ because he is a legend. He is somebody who always showed respect, somebody who gave his all on the pitch, somebody who is loved here.”

Yet 23-year-old Keita, whose £52million move to Anfield from RB Leipzig was agreed a year ago, is undaunted.

“If somebody like that gives you his shirt number, it’s not to play around with, it is to try and do as much as he did – that’s my motivation,” he said,

The Guinea international showed he means business in more pragmatic ways too, on day one at Melwood. He was there only to do his first media duties, have his picture taken, and look at accommodation in his new city.

But the midfielder, described as the best in the Bundesliga over the past two seasons by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, actually requested a training session (above), even though he doesn’t officially become a Liverpool player until July 1.

Keita, who played alongside Reds striker Sadio Mane at Salzburg, hopes to help Liverpool to even greater heights than last season, when they reached the Champions League Final.

“When you see how they performed last season it makes me want to do the same,” he said.

“Sadio Mane is like family to me. We were friends at Salzburg and he was like a brother. He has told me all about the club and what we can achieve.”