Naby Keita is a more complete N’Golo Kante – Bruce Grobbelaar

Liverpool‘s new midfielder Naby Keita is a more complete midfielder than Chelsea star N’Golo Kante, according to Bruce Grobbelaar.

Kante is widely regarded as one of the better defensive midfielders in the world having won back-to-back Premier Leagues and being pivotal to France’s World Cup win this summer.

Keita joined the Reds this summer having previously agreed a move in 2017, and has impressed in pre-season so far ahead of his first Premier League campaign.

And former Liverpool goalkeeper Grobbelaar believes Keita is the fitting replacement for ex-captain Steven Gerrard, whose no.8 jersey the Guinean international took over.

“I honestly believe he is the only player who can take that No.8 jersey after Steven Gerrard – I think he’s the perfect player in that position,” he told the Mirror.

“Stevie G was a brilliant player who will always be remembered as a great servant and ambassador for the club and himself.

“And Keita is the only person I would have given that shirt to try and emulate what Steven has produced.

“He’s a beautiful player and I’ve already seen the signs that he’s going to have a major impact on Liverpool this season and in the years to come. Jurgen Klopp was very astute in seeing Keita’s ability and potential to develop. He got in fast, signed him, then left him at Leipzig last season.

“I’m certain he’s going to blossom even more and fit into the side with ease. I’ve seen him in the pre-season games and he’s been absolutely brilliant.”

Grobbelaar also compared Keita to World Cup winner Kante, insisting Liverpool’s new signing is a more complete player.

He added: “I liken him to Kante, who is a top player. But, with Kante, what you see is what you get. He will hunt you down and win the ball.

“With Keita, he will hunt you down, get the ball, then ­either get in the box and score or he has the same type of ­passing range Philippe Coutinho had in the final delivery.

“There’s no question he’s the complete package for me and the perfect person to wear that jersey after Stevie G.

“When Coutinho left for Barcelona, it was a worry, but, after reaching the Champions League final, there’s no obsession with him anymore.

“I look at stats. With Coutinho in the team, we didn’t win as many games as when he was out – so figure it out.

“Maybe he was an individual player and talent that needed to show himself.

“But, without him, I think we played a better style of football.”

Keita vs Kante last season

Kante has made a name for himself in the Premier League as one of the best defensive midfielders, helping Leicester City and Chelsea to titles.

Last season was a poor one for the Blues, but Kante was one of the better performers, keeping up to his high standards.

The Frenchman averaged 3.4 tackles won per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season, while also making 2.6 interceptions per 90 and having a pass accuracy of 89.3%.

In comparison, Keita won 3 tackles per 90 in his final Bundesliga season with RB Leipzig, averaged 1.7 interceptions and completed 81.4% of his passes.

However, offensively is where Keita takes charge over Kante, averaging 1.8 chances created per 90, scoring six goals and recording five assists.

While Kante scored one goal and recorded one assist from 1.2 chances created per 90 last year – though Maurizio Sarri’s new system has already seen Kante score in his first game this season.

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