Keita is finally developing into the player Liverpool thought they were getting

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Jurgen Klopp went big and went early in the summer to give his Liverpool midfield a facelift in the wake of the Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid.

Fabinho was one of the first signings of the transfer window but Naby Keita’s arrival from RB Leipzig was already agreed before that.

Klopp’s midfield demands are rare in the sense that he does not want a playmaker as such, preferring for his energetic engine room to win the ball so high up the pitch that Liverpool get the ball in more dangerous positions than even the best number ten could hope to take up.

So he went out and got himself two elite, energetic midfielders, but both took time to settle. But even Fabinho’s slow start subsided when he ran the show in December’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United – but Keita had to remain patient.

But he has started Liverpool’s last four matches – the first time he has put together such a run at Anfield – and is beginning to become the player the Reds thought they were getting.

In the second half of the disappointing 1-1 draw against West Ham, Keita was exceptional – which appeared to be missed amid the hubbub that greeted the dropping of two more points.

At home to Bournemouth on Saturday, Keita was exceptional; playing a part in all three goals and putting in the kind of high-octane performance Klopp needs from him on a regular basis.

If Keita can maintain this form, he may just give Liverpool the energy boost they need to last the pace in this most gruelling of Premier League title races and help the Reds get over the line.