Danny Murphy has weighed in on Liverpool bound Naby Keita, and their fans can't believe what he's said.
Liverpool have officially begun life without Phillippe Coutinho following his mega £142 million transfer to Barcelona. He's penned a five-and-a-half-year contract, sealing a 'dream move' to the Camp Nou.
And while Liverpool have already drafted in Southampton's Virgil van Dijk for £75 million, it's suggested the club are also looking into fast tracking Keita's Anfield arrival for this month.
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Though it appears the all-action midfielder will likely remain with RB Leipzig till the end of the season before linking up with his new teammates.
Keita, 22, has impressed the Anfield faithfuls with his performances in the Bundesliga, as well as in the Champions League.
Keita in action for RB Leipzig. Image: PA
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But, one person he hasn't impressed much is Murphy.
"I'm not sure (on Keita), from what I've seen," the ex-Liverpool star said via Liverpool Echo.
"Subconsciously you can look like you've downed tools when you're protecting yourself a little bit, I wouldn't judge him on that. I don't know him well enough to say that. What I would say is he's obviously very athletic, got a lot of qualities - a bit like Jordan Henderson has. Professional, good athlete, does his job really, really well.
"But he isn't creative enough if you want to challenge for the title and the Champions League. Someone like Gerrard, Souness, Alonso, Mascherano - these type of players.
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So, Keita is just like Jordan Henderson - WHAT?!
Needless to say, Liverpool fans took to social media, ripping into their former player:
Though he is a fan of summer signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who signed from rivals Arsenal.
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And Murphy is confident he can continue to develop his game under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp.
"I'm a big fan of Ox, he can develop under Jurgen Klopp and I've seen things from him in a central area that are really promising," Murphy added.
"I think him and Henderson are fine, good Premier League players who will do a job in terms of what you want a central midfielder to do. But to go to the next level, to compete with Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea, you need someone in the middle of the pitch who can open teams up, dictate the tempo and play.
"They've always had it Liverpool. And you won't compete with them unless you have one because it's the most important place on the pitch. The middle of the pitch is where games are dictated and won and lost. It's a massive area to look at.
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What's your take on Murphy's assessment of Keita, 'Ox' and Henderson? Sound off in the comment section below.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Liverpool, Football News, Danny Murphy, Naby Keita, Premier League
