Liverpool: Klopp is DISAPPOINTED with Naby Keita says pundit
Keita arrived at Liverpool from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig last summer for a fee of around £52.75million.
The Guinea international came with a big reputation after two fine seasons in Germany.
However, he has struggled to nail down a starting spot under Klopp and it took him 28 appearances for him to find the back of the net for the first time for Liverpool.
That goal came in the vital Premier League win away at Southampton earlier this month and Keita duly scored again in the Champions League quarter-final first leg win over Porto on Tuesday.
I think in all honesty Klopp will be a little disappointed with what he’s got this season from Keita
Steve Nicol on Liverpool star Naby Keita
Nicol believes Liverpool will start to see the best of Keita next season but admits Jurgen Klopp will not be best pleased with how his debut campaign has panned out.
“Let’s be honest, we’ve got five games left and we’re saying he’s starting to pick it up,” Nicol told ESPN FC.
“I mean, he hasn’t done particularly well.
“He’s had a couple of games where he’s played back to back but other than that he’s pretty much not been seen much this season.
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will be disappointed with Naby Keita, says Steve Nicol (Image: ESPN/GETTY)
Naby Keita scored in Liverpool's first leg win over Porto (Image: GETTY)
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Naby Keita has had a difficult start to life at Liverpool (Image: GETTY)
“I think in all honesty Klopp will be a little disappointed with what he’s got this season from Keita.
“There’s no question he fits the mould of Liverpool’s middle three.
“He will get around the field, he will close the ball down, he will get the ball to the front three.
“But when they bought this guy, the idea was then for him to chip in with some goals as well.
Steve Nicol says Liverpool will see the best of Naby Keita next season (Image: ESPN)
“He got 14 goals in 57 games in the Bundesliga, that’s a great record for a midfield player.
“But he’s not been able to do that, not to season in the Premier League. Yes he’s got two in two recently, but it’s a little bit late.
“So maybe he’s going to be one of those players who will take a season to figure it out, fit in, and then maybe next year we’ll see what Klopp thought he was getting from Naby Keita.