Klopp believes Liverpool will be rewarded waiting for Keita

Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool will be rewarded for playing the waiting game for Naby Keita.

Liverpool wrapped up a deal with RB Leipzig for Naby Keita before the beginning of last season, but he was not allowed to join until the following campaign.

Keita was impressive in Liverpool’s 4-0 win over West Ham United last weekend, and Klopp believes he will only get better as times goes on.

“We wanted him desperately and we accepted it (the wait), we didn’t fight, but he wanted to come immediately,” said Jurgen Klopp, as quoted by The Liverpool Echo.

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Naby Keita of Liverpool runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United at Anfield on August 12, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

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“When somebody tells you ‘it can happen in a year’ nobody in the world likes that message.

“And so he struggled a bit with that, though not too much. Last year was not his best season, the season before was completely next level.

“Last year was normal with a few nice highlights and a few unlucky red cards. We watched them again, it was just a millisecond late here, too excited there. Young players do that.

“It was not that he was overly harsh in his challenges, just that he was too ready to win it. Sometimes when you come too late, it’s not too cool.”

Despite having to wait an entire season before gaining the services of Keita, Klopp believes it was worth the wait.

“It was worth waiting for sure,” said Klopp. “Usually you don’t get a player like him. It’s quite difficult.

“He’s 23 and all the other clubs are not blind, so we were lucky we could do very unusual business a bit early and wait for him.

“A good team always helps players when they come in, always. Usually you don’t come from a better team, you come from the same level or a bit below.

“Then you come in and you improve with the skills of your mates, that’s obviously what happened to Naby so far.

“It was a nice sign. Really nice. But there’s a long, long way to go.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com