Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita has named former Reds star Xabi Alonso as the toughest opponent he has faced in his career to date.
Keita went head to head with Alonso twice in the Bundesliga. Spaniard Alonso was pulling the strings for Bayern Munich while a young Ivorian Keita was representing RB Leipzig.
LiverpoolFC.com hosted a Q&A with Keita and the 23-year-old was asked who the hardest player he had come up against was. He replied: 'When I used to play against Bayern, Xabi Alonso always used to give me a really hard time.
'He was so experienced... he made me suffer. The way he'd keep switching play just meant that you could never stop running. He was very intelligent.'
Alonso, who retired from playing in 2017, spoke highly of Keita last summer.
After Keita's move to Liverpool was agreed, Alonso called him a 'big personality' and an 'all-round midfielder’.
Keita has enjoyed a strong start to his Premier League career, helping Liverpool win their first four games this season.
Alonso made 210 first-team appearances for Liverpool between 2004 and 2009, winning one Champions League, one FA Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and an FA Community Shield.
kuocpryz
16
Alonso was the best midfeilder we have had apart for gerrard in the last 10 years,he was a joy to watch, passes always went either forward or sideways, never backwards,it was a sad day when he left for spain,........... Y.N.W.A......☆☆☆☆☆.......
Bartholonew
14
Liverpool Football Club can confirm they have reached an agreement with RB Leipzig for the future transfer of Naby Keita. The Reds have agreed a deal with the German club and the midfielder that will see the 22-year-old move to Anfield on July 1, 2018 following the conclusion of the current season. Keita, a Guinea international, joined Leipzig from Red Bull Salzburg in 2016 and scored eight goals in 31 Bundesliga appearances last term to help them to a second-place finish. “I am delighted that an agreement has been reached which will allow me to join Liverpool Football Club next summer, when I will become part of a project that excites me greatly,” he said. “My commitment to RBL remains absolute for the remainder of my time at the club. I have given my all every time I have worn the shirt – that will be the case until the final whistle, in my final appearance. “Having my future resolved means I can now focus on helping RBL achieve great things this season. Until I join my new club, next summer, I will remain an interested supporter from a distance.”