Naby Keita watched every Liverpool game last season so he could hit the ground running at Anfield
Midfielder had to wait a year after agreeing a deal to join the Reds before officially becoming a Liverpool player
NABY KEITA was so keen to hit the ground running at Liverpool that he watched them in action every weekend while playing for RB Leipzig.
The midfielder was forced to wait an entire season to eventually join the Reds after agreeing a deal in August 2017.
Keita has slotted straight into the Reds' starting XI and has wasted no time in impressing both his manager and supporters alike - including in the 2-1 win over Spurs.
And it is no surprise that he has adapted to his new surroundings and team-mates after revealing his relentless preparation ahead of the move.
Speaking to , he said: "I watched every match. It was going to be important for me,
“The way they played, the tactics, everything. Obviously, I still had the contract with Leipzig and I was focused 100 per cent on helping them but I was watching every game.
“You are fulfilling a dream of coming to a massive club like Liverpool — it is normal you do as much as you can to prepare to be ready from the moment you arrive.
"I suppose the people I concentrated on the most being a midfielder, and looking at things offensively, was Bobby [Roberto Firmino], Sadio [Mané] and Mo [Salah]. I knew Sadio from Red Bull Salzburg, but I would look at their movements.
“They are all fast, skilful, comfortable on the ball; the speed of the two guys out wide means they want the ball in front of them quite often so they can get in behind.
“Bobby likes to come a little deeper and join in, so he wants it to feet. I knew all this before I came, then, of course, you have to assimilate the manager’s ideas, but I had an idea of how I could help to get the team playing and join in with moves.”
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Keita has started four of the opening five matches in the Premier League this season, helping the Reds to a maximum 15 points.
But with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Napoli and Man City coming up, Keita says the club are motivated by their daunting fixtures.
He added: "I can smell it in the dressing room — everyone is motivated by that fixture list. I can smell it.”