When Liverpool announced the-then club-record signing for Naby Keita back in the summer of 2017, the hype was something that hadn’t been seen for some time amongst supporters.
There is an #LFC midfielder who leads every other in terms of key passes, expected goals and expected assists per 90 minutes this season, and yet he never plays. Until now, perhaps…https://t.co/AGIsmPw3tj
— David Lynch (@LynchStandard) February 23, 2020
Yet the 25-year-old dynamic midfielder’s time at Anfield has been a troubled one, with the former RB Leipzig star spending a good chunk of time out on the injury table as records from Transfermarkt show, but Keita seems to be making a comeback of sorts this season.
Will Liverpool go undefeated this season?
Yes
No
A report from The Evening Standard reveals that the Liverpool no. 8 ranks highly for the club this season in terms of key passes, xG, and xA per 90 minutes, and these findings resulted in a handful of Reds fans on social media backing the Guinean star returning to the form that made him such a prized asset not too long ago.
Here’s what some Liverpool supporters had to say on Twitter about Keita’s stats…
The unfair criticism keita receives on #LFC Twitter is so unfair.. he’s clearly our best midfielder but injuries has hampered his progress.. why were articles like these not written about lallana or Sturridge when they were battling injuries
— sulay Ibraheem (@sulayibraheem) February 23, 2020
No one doubts his talent and quality. Just hope he stays fit. 🙏
— Nayan Mohapatra (@nayanmoha) February 23, 2020
Keita is a must start for us, he played 10 games this season and he carried out midfield in each one of them, 3 goals and 5 assits in those 10 games as well, doesn’t get enough credit because he’s constantly injured, I rate Ox and he’s got a great work rate but Keita is a must!
— Dom (@Dom12358042) February 23, 2020
Our best midfielder ability wise
— Rajoun Buddo (@Jon_Van_Dijk) February 24, 2020
Clearly a talented player just needs to stay fit and get a run in the team
— John Gribben (@joeygribbiani8) February 23, 2020
He needs to get in rhythm and stay fit but he moves and passes the ball forward unlike any other player in midfield. Opens things right up
— drewby79 (@Drewby79) February 23, 2020
As stats from Transfermarkt show, Keita has only managed 311 Premier League minutes this season, with the midfielder starring in Liverpool’s past three games.