Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita received criticism from pundit Michael Owen after his role in Benfica’s first goal at Anfield on Wednesday night.
The Reds hosted Benfica in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash having won the first leg 3-1 last week.
Back at Anfield, many expected Liverpool to have no problems. It ended up being a little more nervy than imagined.
Ibrahima Konate again found the net for Liverpool only for Benfica to hit back through Goncalo Ramos.
Ramos was played through on goal and rattled a fine finish past Alisson with Benfica able to play through the lines.
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen wasn’t too impressed with Keita’s role in the Benfica goal.
Jan Vertonghen had possession near the halfway line and was being pressed by Roberto Firmino, only for Keita to go in and press him too.
That allowed Vertonghen to pick out Keita’s man, Diogo Goncalves, who ended up setting up Ramos with the aid of a deflection.
Owen highlighted Keita’s mistake on BT Sport at half time, claiming that he doesn’t really know what £52million man Keita was thinking.
Owen noted that Firmino was already pressing Vertonghen so Keita going towards him too immediately left Liverpool on the back foot.
“I think Keita is in the wrong position for starters,” said Owen. “I don’t know [what he’s doing], Firmino is doing that job to go and close that man, he basically vacates his area and the ball goes to his man. Straight away then, you’re on the back foot,” he added.
It didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things; Roberto Firmino added two second half goals, and even though Roman Yaremchuk and Darwin Nunez made it 3-3, Liverpool are through.
There is so much to like about Keita’s game, but Owen does have a point here.
Whether it was over-enthusiasm or forgetting his defensive responsibilities, Keita just needs to be a little more responsible in midfield.
If Benfica can pick through Liverpool like that then other Champions League and Premier League teams may be able to as well.
It’s a small detail but sometimes they’re the most important – and we’re guessing somebody like Jurgen Klopp will absolutely notice that kind of thing when he’s going back through the goals.
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