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Liverpool news: Daniel Sturridge admits ‘different’ Naby Keita transfer surprise
DANIEL STURRIDGE has admitted how surprised he’s been by the quality of Liverpool summer signing Naby Keita, hailing him as “something different”.
Naby Keita gives STORMING display in Liverpool friendly game
The Guinean finally joined Jurgen Klopp’s squad this summer after agreeing a move to Anfield a year ago, completing a £52.75million switch from RB Leipzig.
Keita had established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting midfielders in just two years in the German top-flight with Leipzig and has already impressed across the Reds’ pre-season campaign.
And Sturridge is one of those to have benefitted most from Keita’s presence, the two striking up a partnership both on and off the pitch - including a well-taken goal at Blackburn after Keita won the ball high up the pitch and released the front-man.
So much so, the England striker - who looked likely to end his five-year spell on Merseyside this summer - is now set to stay having impressed in the club’s warm-up matches, scoring three goals so far.
And discussing Keita’s early impact on the team, the 28-year-old enthused about how his new team-mate can do “everything”.
“I love that guy. I’m surprised how good he is actually, if I’m honest. I knew he was good but I don’t watch German football too often,” Sturridge told Liverpool’s official website.
“I haven’t seen a midfielder like him for a while, he is something different. It’s crazy.
“The things he can do with the ball – he can defend, he can pass, he can dribble, he is fast, he is strong. He has got everything.
“I’m excited to see what he does in the Premier League and the Champions League.
“I sit next to him in the changing room and we have a lot of banter; my French is terrible but I try my best. His English is OK.
“We share some good times and have a lot of laughs together. I like him a lot, he’s a good guy.”
Liverpool return to pre-season action against Premier League rivals and Sturridge’s former club Manchester City in the International Champions Cup in New Jersey on Thursday (1.05am).