;)
Naby got a kickstart against Bournemouth
Posted by Mark Greeff on 8 December 2019 10:25 AM CAT
Injuries and inconsistency at inopportune moments have hampered Naby Keita‘s chances of settling in at Anfield and making himself a first-team player.
He’s obviously talented, he’s clearly rated—but he needed to take a chance and make a case for his own regular inclusion, or risk being left behind by a team which is relentless in its near-perfectionism.
We’re not talking here about fans not rating him, not being good enough or any other such vague irrelevance; just a truthful note that this Liverpool team is exceptional, and any player offering less than a full contribution to that simply won’t be included on a regular basis. There wouldn’t be a need for it.
For 40-odd minutes at Dean Court, our No. 8 was showing signs of not having seen much league action this season, not having featured in this precise right-sided role, not having much of rhythm or intensity to his game.
Then, in a five-minute burst, he got himself involved in two or three good moments and areas, made one driving run, fed Mo Salah and kept running into the box.
A goal can do monstrous, wondrous things for a player’s confidence.
Within 10 minutes of the second half starting, Keita had attempted a 25-yard volley and claimed an assist too, setting up Salah to all-but guarantee the win.
