Struggling Naby Keita may have been overhyped at Liverpool

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Naby Keita struggled once again for Liverpool on Monday – this time against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup.

Jurgen Klopp elected to started the Guinea international in midfield, in the hope he’d be able to use the game to prove himself.

But Keita had a hard time imposing himself on the game, and was sloppy when in possession.

The dynamo, signed by the Reds for £52.75 million (Liverpool Echo), was hyped up massively by the Anfield faithful at the time of his arrival.

For Keita didn’t actually move to Merseyside straight away – his transfer was announced in 2017, and the player joined in the summer of 2018.

That meant a season of dazzling in the Bundesliga before his move, which definitely increased the hype around him further.

Wilting under the pressure?

Keita certainly seems to be playing without much confidence at the moment.

He is definitely yet to find his feet in English football, and perhaps that is due to the hype that surrounds him.

Keita has been under the microscope since he arrived at the club, which was always going to be the case given his £52.75 million fee.

The price tag could well be a burden for him at this point, and the constant comparisons with Manchester United maestro Paul Pogba cannot help. Some Liverpool fans were very quick to liken the pair following the Frenchman’s own struggles at Old Trafford.

And then there’s the fact that he wears Steven Gerrard’s old number.

It’s still early days for Keita of course. He has shown his quality in glimmers so far and is still young at 23.

His second season at Anfield is arguably the best time to judge him.