Dietmar Hamann insists Naby Keita is ‘not good enough’ for Liverpool

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has insisted Naby Keita is ‘not good enough’ for Jurgen Klopp’s side and believes he was at fault for both of Atletico Madrid’s goals on Tuesday night. 

Keita scored Liverpool’s second goal of the game at the Wanda Metropolitano – an outrageous volley that put the Reds 2-0 up in the Spanish capital.

But after his offensive heroics, Keita played a role in both of Atletico’s goals as Diego Simeone’s side clawed themselves back into the game before Mo Salah netted a late winner. 

Hamann was less than impressed with Keita’s efforts off the ball in the win at Atletico Madrid

First, he was too weak and too slow to react to a short corner, allowing Thomas Lemar to get along the byline and cause havoc before Antoine Griezmann poked home from close range.

Then he was beaten far too easily by Joao Felix as he dribbled past the Guinean and played Griezmann through on goal to get his second of the night.

Keita was brought off at half-time as Klopp introduced Fabinho, although the German insisted it was always his intention to bring him off after 45 minutes after a hectic recent international schedule.

But Hamann, who made 283 appearances for the Reds, was far from impressed by Keita’s display and said he’s simply ‘not good enough’ to play for Liverpool. 

‘I’ve got to say, I think Keita was at fault for both goals,’ the ex-Germany manager told talkSPORT.

‘I know he’s had some injuries, but I don’t think he’s good enough for Liverpool.

‘If you score a goal like he did, you should be full of confidence, you have to do your defensive duties and I get the feeling he just wants to play with the ball and when Liverpool have got possession.

Keita allowed Joao Felix to skip past him too easily as the forward helped Atletico make it 2-2

Earlier in the game, Keita scored an outrageous volley from distance to put Liverpool 2-0 up

‘You just can’t do that and he’s not good enough to do that. The way he got beaten for the first two goals was just too easy.’ 

After the match, Klopp said: ‘He played three games for Guinea and the last Premier League game.

’45 minutes was right for him. I have spoken to him and it is all good.’ 

Hamann was also far from impressed by Liverpool’s defending as a whole, with the Reds conceding 11 goals in 12 matches across all competitions so far.

The German added: ‘Defensively Liverpool were pretty average as they conceded two and the reason they stayed in the game was because they made two or three good saves, [Alisson] Becker was outstanding again.

‘That is something they have to address.

‘They won the Champions League and Premier League when they were defensively as good as anyone, but on Tuesday they conceded the chances and goals that were far too easy.’