Reds star Naby Keita has revealed that he feels he is ready to make a mark for Liverpool after inheriting the number 8 jersey.
Liverpool splashed £52.7 million on the services of Naby Keita last summer but the Guinea international joined Anfield only this June from Bundesliga side Red Bull Leipzig. And when he arrived at Merseyside he was given the jersey number 8 which was previously worn by Liverpool legend and former captain Steven Gerrard.
The 38-year-old former England international Steven Gerrard left Liverpool in the summer of 2015 to join MLS side La Galaxy and Keita becomes the first player to don the number 8 jersey after Gerrard’s departure.
In his short spell so far at Liverpool, Keita has impressed plenty of the Liverpool fans with his passing range and dynamism and has revealed how happy he is at receiving local hero Steven Gerrard’s jersey.
The 23-year-old Liverpool midfielder spoke to Sky Sports and opened up on his childhood dream, “You see the number eight is really legendary and to wear this shirt now it is legendary, “It used to belong to a player who was a legend that was respected here. When I was a child, it really was in my mind, to play for a great club like Liverpool. Well here I am now; I don’t mean I’m not going to be like him because each of us is different individuals”
The young box to box midfielder is currently out injured but explained how he wants to leave a mark on Anfield with his performances after achieving his dream, “Stevie left his own mark, I want to leave my own mark, I am going to work really hard to leave my own mark as he did. To play for Liverpool, that is a dream I had as a child and here I am now.”
Keita should return to action in a few weeks’ time as he continues to nurse his hamstring problem but it’s great to see how grounded and aware he is of the club that he is part of.
