Souness: Liverpool could be unstoppable when player they have got lined up arrives this summer

Sun 1 April 2018 11:26, UK

By Richard Parks

Graeme Souness has predicted on Sky Sports that “fabulous” Liverpool could be unstoppable when Naby Keita arrives this summer.

The Merseysiders have lined up a deal for the central midfielder to arrive on 1 July after announcing last August on their official website that an agreement was secured with his club RB Leipzig.

Souness has been impressed by how the team has progressed under Jurgen Klopp, who celebrated his 100th Premier League match in charge with a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace yesterday (Saturday) and believes it needs only minor tinkering to go the next level.

“Lots of plusses, playing a very attractive football, a team that most neutrals would want to watch,” Souness – who coached Liverpool from 1991 to 1994 – told Sky Sports, as quoted by the broadcaster’s website.

“But they have to start winning trophies as that is what you are judged on ultimately and that is the only thing that is missing.

“You have to say that whoever is responsible for the players coming in there have done really well.

“There are some fabulous players and Naby Keita is coming in the summer [from RB Leipzig] and he might just give them that extra bit of quality that I think they need in midfield.

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“I think they need someone in midfield who sees a different picture. The three that they have got in there today (Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum) – and I include Emre Can in that – are all very good players, all very workmanlike and do a great job for the cause.“But none of them have got that real magic and maybe he will give them that.”

Football Insider verdict:

Keita will certainly add something to a Liverpool midfield that is solid but one-dimensional. The current quartet fighting for the two central midfield slots are all 7/10 Premier League players. As Souness points out, Keita could be a 9/10 dazzler who might turn an already mighty fine side into a great one. There is not much else lacking for Liverpool, other than in the goalkeeper department, where Loris Karius looks a decent number two rather than a main man at an elite club. Will Keita be the difference-maker? He certainly will bring goals, dynamism and creativity to the central acres, with his record at Leipzig – 16 goals and 13 assists from 64 matches in all seasons – way above that of Henderson and company.

In other Liverpool news, the club are to table a mega goal machine offer, he will certainly be at Anfield in 18/19.

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