29 Sep 2020 10:05:52
Thoughts on Naby last night? Well if I'm honest I thought there was a slight improvement by him.

{Ed025's Note - he was ok barry, nothing more nothing less mate..

29 Sep 2020 10:37:40
ed025 I thought he was better but still needs to do a lot more and was surprised he did not come off sooner than he did. I was hoping Jones was going to come on for him, he offers so much more all ready at his young age.

{Ed025's Note - i have not seen enough of jones to form an opinion yet grino, but thiago would be an upgrade i believe mate..

29 Sep 2020 10:53:37
OP, I thought Naby was much better esp. in his offensive decision-making, runs and was a bit better defensively which is where most of his issues lie, IMO. Still needs to work a lot harder, overall tho.

29 Sep 2020 11:18:09
Naby is a passenger in the games he has played thus far. Infact in the majority of the minutes he has played its like we are playing with 10 men and I have to check if he's still on the pitch. His performances have been nothing short of anonymous and I for one would rather see someone else get a crack.

29 Sep 2020 11:11:34
Thought his work rate was spot on last night, he was high pressing more than he has ever done, ed25 may be eating his words come derby Day, can't see your defence coping with a high press, your keeper may just assist us with a few also Ed, unless you get another dodgy penalty hahahaha.

{Ed025's Note - i think your like a lot of the others on here john, blinded by the expectation that he may produce a little flick or make a telling pass, what he does do well is enforce the press but is that enough?, not for me mate..

29 Sep 2020 11:34:22
I have been a bit underwhelmed by him and think you're right ed as fans we do cling to any positive. Utd fans do it with Pogba, who let's face it has been nowhere near as good as people were expecting, and we do it with Keita. I remember a toffee mate of mine being convinced Van der Meyde was going to come good for you lot after one or two decent crosses 😂.

{Ed025's Note - you are right bledd we are all guilty of it at times mate, but liverpool fans take it to another level..

29 Sep 2020 11:42:08
We have great experience in it ed. My therapist says it's a defense mechanism but I stand by Joe Cole coming good for us one day that'll show him.

{Ed025's Note - love it bledd..

29 Sep 2020 11:49:36
Would make decent articles for ed01 because I know he's looking for things to do in his spare time. Most disappointing players who were expected to do great things and maybe why it didn't work out. Cole, Sanchez, Pogba, Torres, Kewell etc. Of course the great Van Der Meyde. I did genuinely think he'd be the business when you signed him.

{Ed025's Note - a lot of players have dashed our hopes over the years bledd, thankfully there were players like bob latchford who kept us believing mate..

29 Sep 2020 12:34:44
Had to Google him ed! He scored some goals. Also finished his career down the road from me in Merthyr.

{Ed025's Note - absolutely top notch bledd and my footballing hero..

29 Sep 2020 13:08:29
Keita keeps getting the call, so he must be doing something right. I personally still have hope he can hold down a regular spot and impress. I like what he brings to the game.

29 Sep 2020 13:36:22
p1, I think you are being a bit hyperbolic here. Yes, I agree Naby has not been good enuff in his performances of late BUT to say he is a passenger, is blatant exaggeration, IMO. If Keita was a passenger trust me, he would be nowhere near the lineup cos in our system, passengers are not allowed.

Naby has immense talent BUT he just has to sort out his tactical awareness, attitude and work a lot harder, all out of possession. He is by no means a passenger or anonymous cos we all see what he brings in flashes and we have all seen it or at least, some of us have. It is his all round game that need a lot of work still.

29 Sep 2020 13:38:45
let post more negative things about Keita and hoping Klopp will drop him from starting IV so Curtis Jones have a chance to become a regular starter.

29 Sep 2020 13:44:10
Fans are saying Kieta isn't good enough, Klopp keeps playing him. Does Klopp know what he is doing.

29 Sep 2020 15:26:41
Klopp certainly knows what he’s doing.
I personally thought Keita played well last night .

29 Sep 2020 16:51:38
JK23, I think Klopp is aware of his weaknesses BUT is playing him cos he wants him to have the best chance to succeed hence, why many of us think this season could be his last chance to succeed with us. I could be wrong BUT that is what I think. Last night's game was a slight improvement BUT he needs to do more esp. when we are out of possession as that part of his game is my main problem with him.

29 Sep 2020 13:00:41
Tears me up to say it but I have to agree with ed25 here. Keita was improved last night but surely we should be asking more of our players? On form, we are one of the best teams in the world atm and glimpses here and there of quality isn't enough he has to be showing consistently that he can perform.

He may still prove me wrong this season and I'll be the first to hold my hands up if and when he starts turning up week in week out.

29 Sep 2020 17:59:30
Rm agree mate that Naby has flattered to deceive since coming in but I thought he had a good game last night. Nothing wrong with saying if a player has a good game or a bad one. When bobby gives the ball away it’s because he’s trying something, when Naby does it, it’s because he’s sloppy. Only Klopp knows why he is picking Naby and whether this season might be his last in his plans. I’m sure Naby will take the fact that your main problem with him is his work rate mate and will aim to improve it to impress you and gets your seal of approval.

01 Oct 2020 04:16:18
I very much agree with what the ED mentioned above that keita does enforce the press which is clear as day but he doesn't get any credit on here for that. I understand he can let us down with sloppy use of the ball etc but I think that saying he doesn't work hard enough or is tactically poor is wrong considering his role. If you look at what he quickly does when we are without the ball he's always the midfielder just behind our attack and he presses with long range sprints but never intended to get there in time to make a tackle, his press limits the time or options for the opposition and it enables salah and mane to get closer to their FBs and firmino to try get into where the predicted play will be after a pass or 2 forces them into our trap. His stats in terms of pressing is fascinating if you look into it, he covers way more yards than others in terms of pressing movements, he does it far more frequently and what I think is interesting that none of us would ever notice is that there's a record of the success rate where a player attempts a sprinted press exceeding 10yards which results in possession being turned over within 5 seconds. And he has such high results for both the number of attempts and his success rate is miles above anyone. So it may seem like he's running around never making a tackle and bypassed but it's crazy how often we then win the ball back within seconds as their player got led into a trap intentionally. Klopp obviously asks him to do this job and sees his purposeful sprints that force their next action whereas we only look at the ball and the potential threat. To call him as lazy or not tactically aware when his role this season is becoming clear that covering ground at speed to tactically control where you want the opponent to play the ball is relied on working hard and being aware of the tactical shape. His numbers even when he lasts 60 mins are better than those who play 90.

This is similar to how lallana was used when we started a season on fire a few years ago. Have a closer look at his game off the ball next time we play this way and see the patterns that helps us turn over the ball after he limited the options.