‘Amazing’ player can play his way into Liverpool’s best XI tonight, Klopp says his ‘future will be great’ – RTK View

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Naby Keita can well and truly play his way into the best Liverpool XI tonight. The midfielder was fantastic in the first leg vs Benfica.

Tonight could well be the night that Naby Keita earns a new Liverpool contract and forces his way into the best XI. It’s a game set up for him – this could be his moment.

Keita has had a strange Liverpool career up to now. His ability is unquestionable and the Guinean boasts elite talent but we haven’t seen it consistently. He simply hasn’t had those decisive moments that the Reds bought him for.

But this could be one. Keita was fantastic in the first leg – arguably Liverpool’s best player, in fact – and another solid performance tonight would cement this as his tie. We expect him to start the game, with Liverpool almost certainly rotating between massive games against Manchester City.

And that might just force Keita into Liverpool’s best XI. It’s a difficult one as both Thiago and Jordan Henderson are so important to the side but at the season’s business end, Jurgen Klopp will likely gravitate towards anyone who’s in sparkling form.

Keita can fit that bill with another match-defining performance this evening. But perhaps there’s something even more important to be won.

Naby Keita and his Liverpool future

Keita’s contract expires in 2023, making this summer a huge one. Liverpool will hope to negotiate a new deal, as will the player, but what kind of contract should it be?

This will be the deal for Keita’s prime years, after all. He’ll want a big payday but it’s debatable whether he’s earned one. It’s clear Liverpool believe he can earn it – Klopp’s recent comments show that.

“Naby’s future will be great,” said Klopp, per Fabrizio Romano. “He’s an amazing player.”

We imagine Liverpool want to see a little more before investing in that future with the kind of money Keita will want, however. Two big performances in a Champions League quarter final will go a long way to giving them just that, though.

Something special from Keita tonight really could be him securing the kind of long-term Liverpool future everybody wants.