The Athletic’s Liverpool journalist James Pearce has defended Naby Keita amid criticism from supporters, per The Red Agenda podcast (February 26, 09:35).
What’s the word?
The Reds are cantering towards their first ever Premier League title and sit 22 points clear of second-placed Manchester City. They have yet to lose.
Keita has made just nine Premier League appearances this season, with only four of them being starts.
One of those came against West Ham United on Monday evening, but he lasted just 57 minutes, and supporters went to town on the 25-year-old on social media following their 3-2 win.
Pearce has previously written that Liverpool paid £52.75m to sign Keita and he claims that he simply needs a period of adjustment in the top-flight.
He said: “It just feels like one step forward two steps back with him, you know. He's had so many injury problems during his two seasons at the club.
“When you think back to the impact we all expected him to make when Liverpool paid £52.75 million for him, he absolutely lit up the Bundesliga and we just haven't seen that yet.
“I think you have to cut him some slack because I think the first year was always going to be a period of adjustment, you know, new language, new culture.”
Can you name the result these iconic Liverpool images belong to? Give it a go now...
Injury issues
Keita, rated at £37.8m by Transfermarkt, has struggled with injuries throughout his time at Liverpool.
He has missed a total of 23 games with various issues, including muscular injuries and, most recently, a groin strain.
In total, that equates to 153 days missed, whereas, during his time at Leipzig, he missed just 20 days and four games.
Misfortune has befallen Keita a number of times this season and one has to believe that he just needs this season to end and for pre-season to begin so that he can get back to his very best.
Pearce is potentially right; next season is the litmus test.