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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp praised midfielder Naby Keita during his pre-match press conference for the huge Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital on Wednesday night.
While the 23-year-old started his Reds career brightly, injuries and lack of form have so far meant that he has been unable to replicate the goals and assists he regularly produced from the middle of the park for Red Bull Leipzig previously, failing to register one of either in 11 appearances in all competitions to date.
However, Klopp came out and said that the Guinea international is and will be an important player for the Merseyside club in the future, but how else can the German’s comments be interpreted?
What did he say?
Speaking ahead of the trip to the Parc des Princes, as quoted by Sky Sports, the 51-year-old said:
“His start was really good and then average. That’s how it is. Naby can improve and learn the language but it’s a long-term project.”
“He is an outstanding player.
“He will be a massive player in the future for Liverpool and he is already.”
How could Klopp’s comments be read?
It seems unlikely that the former Borussia Dortmund boss is going to turn his back on his preferred 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations anytime soon, with Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah all guaranteed starting spots when they are fit.
If Xherdan Shaqiri maintains his form and Liverpool don’t decide to return for Lyon’s Nabil Fekir or a similar No.10, then that could leave just two midfield spots available.
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The latest quotes from Klopp suggests that Keita will either be one of two or one of three in the aforementioned systems, with Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Gini Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the others fighting it out for a spot in the XI.
The African establishing himself would certainly be frustrating for Oxlade-Chamberlain who was becoming a key player himself before injury, and he could either be forced to sit on the substitutes’ bench or potentially even be used out wide again – even if his preferred position is through the middle.
In addition, as soon as Keita does become a fixture in the side it will surely leave Wijnaldum’s future in doubt, as the 23-year-old will need a more defensive-minded player alongside him.