Liverpool's Naby Keita: Only injuries stopping me showing how much I've improved under Jurgen Klopp

Naby Keita believes only injuries have prevented him from showing the improvements he has made under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

Since making the move to Anfield in the summer of 2018, the Guinean has only managed to show flashes of the the form that prompted RB Leipzig to demand £52m to sanction a transfer.

But he is certain that is not down to a failure to adapt to the pace of the Premier League or a new tactical approach.

And he is keen to avoid the niggling fitness issues that have blighted his Reds career thus far in order to show what he has learned since being taken under Klopp's wing.

Asked about Klopp, Keita told the official Liverpool FC magazine: "Overall, he is a coach that gives you confidence and he is the motivating factor before a match, but you’ve also got to be motivated on the field."

"When you see him on the sideline and you’re on the field, it’s as if he’s playing with you and that gives you a lot of desire to do better.

"He’s always there for his players, he’s almost like a best friend but he’s a coach who can communicate with all his players.

"When I arrived I had to try to settle in and be able to integrate with the team. I respect his choices, so I was there to work every day.

"He is somebody who is able to give you explanations on the field, and that helps a lot and when you play of course you don’t ever doubt yourself. That’s coaching and he sees everything.

"I think I have now improved a lot, apart from my injuries which have kept me out of several matches. He’s somebody who communicates a lot and a coach who explains everything to all his players.”

If Klopp feels any frustration over Keita's injury record, he is yet to show it publicly.

And the 25-year-old has cited his manager's undying faith in every single member of his squad as one of his biggest strengths.

"He will always defend his players because for him all the players are the same. There is no difference to him," he added.

"He’s always there to explain things to you, such as if you haven’t played the best in a game, which is hard for coaches to do.

"But that’s a choice he has to make and it helps us fight harder on the training field to push hard so you can be playing at the weekend.

"He communicates with us all equally and that’s what I really like about him. During training he will stop you and give you advice and explanations.”

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