Naby Keita finally makes a return to Liverpool after a tensed occasion of being stranded in Guinea. The midfielder was with his team ready to face a Moroccan side in the World Cup Qualifiers when a military coup backed by Guinean opposition leader took over the city of Conakry. Due to the unprecedented events, the game was postponed due to safety concerns, with their opponents safely escorted out of the country before the scheduled kickoff.
Liverpool were in direct talks with Keita and authorities regarding the midfielder’s return, but with borders closed there were concerns over when he would be permitted to travel. Fortunately, good news revealed that Keita had personally booked a 13-seater private jet out of the country for him and his team-mates based overseas.
Keita finally landed in England on Tuesday evening just in time for Liverpool's fixture with Leeds during the weekend. In Guinea borders had to be closed following the overthrow of President Alpha Conde. Naby Keita on the other hand will be looking to perform entirely well during the recently begun new season. The 26-year-old is an immensely talented player who however doesn’t consistently perform. Having managed only 714 games last season, supporters have been waiting the entirety of Keita’s career with the club for him to show what he is capable of on a consistent basis.
In his two seasons with RB Leipzig he scored 14 league goals and assisted 11 more, yet across three years in England those two statistics stand at four apiece. Over the previous three seasons, Liverpool’s Premier League goal difference has worked out at 1.27 per 90 minutes. Yet when Keita has been on the pitch the average is 1.62, meaning it has been 1.15 when he has been absent. While it can’t all be attributed to him of course, the fact is that the Reds’ goal difference has been 0.47 per 90 minutes better when he has played. After all, the Reds have very few peak age midfielders at present and the Guinea international needs to make sure he makes the most of what should be his best years.