Liverpool successfully wiped out five wins early in the Premier League season 2018/2019. A success that cannot be separated from the slick appearance of the two anchors of the Reds in midfield Naby Keita and Georginio Wijnaldum.
Purchased since 2017, Keita has just officially been dressed in Liverpool this season after being loaned to RB Leipzig for one season. No need for Liverpool to wait patiently, because the midfielder from Guinea was immediately able to adapt.
Of the five matches Liverpool have gone through, Keita has been a starter four times. Had not been a starter when Liverpool beat Leicester City before the international break, Keita returned to being a major player when defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday (15/9).
Keita was able to make team captain Jordan Henderson sit on the bench. The 23-year-old midfielder played 83 minutes before being replaced by Daniel Sturridge. Can not be denied, the presence of Keita became one of the keys to Liverpool’s success in achieving perfect results in the first five games, as well as Chelsea who became the top of the Premier League standings because of superior goal difference. Keita’s duet with Wijnaldum has made Liverpool one of the best midfielders in the Premier League this season.
Last season Liverpool’s game was very prominent on the front lines with the presence of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. However, the impressive front lines of Liverpool were not followed by appearances in midfield and back.
The presence of Keita and Wijnaldum, plus the tireless game and James Milner’s experience, made the Liverpool midfield dominate in five matches earlier this season. That condition was also seen when Liverpool defeated Tottenham.
Quoted from Who Scored, 35 percent of Liverpool’s intercepts when defeating Tottenham were carried out by Keita and Wijnaldum. Keita and Wijnaldum’s understanding of playing in midfield seemed as if the two midfielders had been teammates for a long time.
In the 4-3-3 formation applied by Klopp, Keita and Wijnaldum are more likely to be two anchors of Liverpool’s midfield in a 4-2-1-3 formation. While Milner moves more freely.
The presence of Keita and Wijnaldum made Liverpool able to play more calmly in midfield. The Reds like having two ‘N’Golo Kante’ in midfield. Both players are great at defending and active in attacking. Wijnaldum even scored the opening goal of Liverpool when they beat Tottenham.
If Keita and Wijnaldum are able to maintain their form, especially avoiding serious injury, Liverpool deserve to be favorites to win the Premier League title this season. Moreover Liverpool has been more stable in the back line. The presence of Alisson Becker under the crossbar also gives the Liverpool squad even more comfort.
Liverpool have shown that they are a more complete team than last season, at least at the start of the Premier League this season.
