Liverpool emerged victorious following penalties from an enthralling Carabao Cup clash with Leicester City at Anfield.
The Reds had trailed 3-1 at half-time as a makeshift starting XI struggled to cope with the strength of the visitors.
Not satisfied with leaving the competition with a whimper at the quarter-final stage, Jurgen Klopp made three changes at the break to alter the entire contest.
Diogo Jota, James Milner and Ibrahima Konate began the turnaround before Naby Keita was introduced on the hour mark.
The Guinean was instrumental in shifting the momentum and goals from Jota and Takumi Minamino took the tie to penalties.
These Kopites were left delighted with the 26-year-old’s cameo display as a rapturous Anfield crowd revelled in the success.
Keita is unreal, has to start whenever he’s fit
— Shaun (@Shaun_Matthews_) December 22, 2021
This Keita masterclass cannot be in vain…
— Laurie (@LFCLaurie) December 22, 2021
Keita was absolutely immense when he came on and changed the game. Konate, Milner and Jota boss but special mention for Naby. #LFC
— Graeme Kelly (@GraemeKelly1) December 22, 2021
Konate and Keita absolutely superb when they came on. Jota with another great finish too.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) December 22, 2021
This Keita cameo is up there with Hamann in Instanbul
— 𝑇𝑇 (@LFCMaxs) December 22, 2021
You don’t understand how good Keita can be when put alongside Fab and Thiago. He will be a monster.
— Jack Moore (@Jack_Moore7) December 22, 2021
Keita earned a 7.20 Sofascore rating whilst making two key passes and an audacious nutmeg on James Maddison.
READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT
Spectacular.
Albeit in a perhaps lesser valued competition, that second-half performance was up there with the best in the Klopp era.
Liverpool fans have been waiting for displays such as this from Keita since the midfielder arrived and unfortunately, they’ve been deprived due to injury all too often.
Hopefully, this will be the start of many more as well as another step on the road to a Wembley final.
