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Naby Keita: ''I am going to work really hard to leave my own mark like Steven Gerrard did''.

When Liverpool signed Naby Keita from Leipzig, on the proviso that he would remain in the Bundesliga for another year, fans were allowed the deep sigh of relief that rounded out a dramatic transfer saga.There was an automatic assumption that Keita would hit the ground running as a result of scintillating Bundesliga form.

But since then, he’s gone a little stale, putting in average performances and picking up niggling injuries. At the moment, he’s not available for our next couple of fixtures due to a hamstring issue picked up on international duty.

Keita though is not worried and has spoken excellently about what he must do to fulfil his talent. Namely, learning English!

“You see the number eight is really legendary and to wear this shirt now it is legendary,” Keita told Sky Sports. “It used to belong to a player who was a legend, that was respected here.

“When I was a child, that 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 are individuals.

“He left his own mark, I want to leave my own mark, I am going to work really hard to leave my own mark like he did. To play for Liverpool, that is a dream I had as a child and here I am now.

“I am following a course, I am really motivated to speak English, it is really important for me,” he added. “I want to be able to speak to the coach, I want to speak to the other players on the team and I am really working hard.

“I am hoping in six months I will be able to do these interviews in English.

“I find the scouse accent a bit difficult but I will try my best [to learn some]. I do not know any scouse, I have been trying to speak English I have not been able to learn any scouse yet.”

His tendency to dribble with the ball belies an urgency in his play to always move forwards. Not enough credit is given to how he’s able to mastermind a counter-attack; he can be the one to start the move and the one to give the final assist.