Bit surprised by this take, have always liked Keïta when he’s actually been on the pitch. Feels like I generally agree with you on the specifics (athleticism, being dispossessed) but not how it all balances out overall? Might just be my memory but it feels like he’s had a fair few MOTM performances in his time, and like the Mikes I’ve always felt like his problems have been an issue of consistency rather than ceiling at LFC. So to you is this just an issue of reality vs really high expectations (“the new steven gerrard”)? Or is his attacking output really just plain outweighed by his faults?
couldn’t agree with you more Grace, and I think the signing of Thiago and the elevation of Elliot indicates Klopp and co feel the same
most disappointing point of Keita’s game in England for me - other than the defensive side, where your rightly say he seems a liability more often than an asset, not winning the ball nearly enough for how much he gets caught far from his “zone” - has been the goal contribution. finally I thought we’d signed a goal-scoring midfielder. sure he’s scored a couple screamers but it feels like Fabinho gets on the end of more crosses than he does, and the system is built around getting the ball wide and high percentage chances in the box. how he has been unable to figure out how to get into good areas the way far inferior midfielders might, like say Gundogan, is baffling to me
Bit surprised by this take, have always liked Keïta when he’s actually been on the pitch. Feels like I generally agree with you on the specifics (athleticism, being dispossessed) but not how it all balances out overall? Might just be my memory but it feels like he’s had a fair few MOTM performances in his time, and like the Mikes I’ve always felt like his problems have been an issue of consistency rather than ceiling at LFC. So to you is this just an issue of reality vs really high expectations (“the new steven gerrard”)? Or is his attacking output really just plain outweighed by his faults?
couldn’t agree with you more Grace, and I think the signing of Thiago and the elevation of Elliot indicates Klopp and co feel the same
most disappointing point of Keita’s game in England for me - other than the defensive side, where your rightly say he seems a liability more often than an asset, not winning the ball nearly enough for how much he gets caught far from his “zone” - has been the goal contribution. finally I thought we’d signed a goal-scoring midfielder. sure he’s scored a couple screamers but it feels like Fabinho gets on the end of more crosses than he does, and the system is built around getting the ball wide and high percentage chances in the box. how he has been unable to figure out how to get into good areas the way far inferior midfielders might, like say Gundogan, is baffling to me