Should Liverpool be worried about Naby Keita’s disciplinary record ahead of next summer’s move?
The RB Leipzig star has picked up three red cards from his last seven outings for club and country
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IN August the news that Liverpool had put in place a deal to sign highly-rated Guinean midfielder Naby Keita for next season was rightly greeted with excitement from Reds fans.
The box-to-box dynamo was outstanding in RB Leipzig’s rise to second place in the Bundesliga last term and possesses several qualities that will instantly improve Jurgen Klopp’s midfield.
However, any Liverpool supporters paying close attention to Keita’s recent displays might be a little concerned about his deteriorating disciplinary record, with the 22-year-old having seen red three times in his last seven outings for club and country.
Our friends at Football Whispers have taken a look at Keita’s dismissals and overall form this term to see whether Liverpool should be worried about the man who’ll be moving to Anfield next summer.
Although the fact they are backed by the riches of an energy drink corporation, and have circumvented German football’s 50+1 rule aimed at preventing clubs being owned outright by any single entity, which has made them “the most hate club in Germany”, it was impossible not to admire the football played by RB Leipzig last season.
In their first ever campaign in the Bundesliga, the East German outfit were organised, hard-working and efficient, but also fearless, expressive and daring, taking on the established elite of the division and more than holding their own.
At the heart of the impressive young side was Keita, the midfield engine who would break up opposition attacks with his positional awareness, anticipation and physical strength, and burst forward to create and score goals at the other end.
Keita’s form was so impressive that Liverpool were convinced to offer club-record bids for the 22-year-old over the summer – with reports suggesting their offers reached as much as £65million – in an attempt to prise the young midfielder away from the Red Bull Arena.
KEITSURFING Liverpool's chances of pulling off January deal for Naby Keita are slim
Leipzig, with a maiden Champions League campaign on the horizon, resisted, despite the fact that a £48million release clause, active next summer, could’ve seen them lose the player for less than Liverpool’s offer at the end of the season.
In the end, a compromise was reached: Liverpool agreed to pay Keita’s clause with a premium on top to ensure they get their man for next season before other interested parties – Bayern Munich and Barcelona said to be among them – could swoop to contest the move.
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Savvy business from both clubs, but Keita’s recent antics will have raised eyebrows on Merseyside, with the soon-to-be-Reds star showing an alarming lack of discipline for both club and country.
Three red cards in the space of 39 days have brought the young midfielder’s temperament into question.
The first, picked up in a September clash against Borussia Monchengladbach, was eerily reminiscent of Sadio Mane’s sending off at the Etihad the same month, as Keita’s raised boot collided with the head of an opponent, resulting in a straight red card.
Then three weeks later while on international duty with Guinea, Keita was sent off in the closing stages of his country’s 4-1 defeat to Tunisia – he had scored his side’s only goal – when his raised arm connected with the face of Mohamed Amine Ben Amor.
His latest dismissal came on Wednesday night as Leipzig took on Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal. Already cautioned, Keita picked up a second yellow for cynically pulling back Robert Lewandowski as the Polish forward threatened to break away. Jupp Heynckes’ side went on to win on penalties.
Three red cards in little over a month is a poor showing for Keita, but it would be wrong to read too much into his recent disciplinary issues. All three reds were vastly different and not necessarily indicative of any prolonged problem.
Meanwhile, Keita’s form has been excellent. He managed eight goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga last term, and his return thus far of one apiece suggests he might not match that tally in 2017/18. But the summer additions of talented 20-year-old French striker Jean-Kevin Augustin from Paris Saint-Germain and Portuguese winger Bruma from Galatasaray have meant that Keita’s role has changed slightly, making him less of a direct goal threat.
He is making more passes per game this season that he was in 2016/17 (49.3 to 45.9), at a higher accuracy (82.1 per cent to 81.8 per cent), and more key passes per game (1.5 to 1.3). While defensively he is making more tackles per game (3.7 to 2.6) and interceptions (three to 2.6) than last term too.
Concerning his recent flurry of red cards may be, the signs show that Keita is only getting better. Liverpool fans should be very excited.
