3 reasons why Liverpool managed a draw against Chelsea

#2 The lack of quality in midfield

Naby Keita has the potential to be one of the world's best midfielders

During his time in RB Leipzig, Naby Keita emerged as the best Bundesliga midfielder not named Thiago Alcantara. Modern football is largely predicated on verticality — winning the ball in advantageous positions and moving it towards goal before the unsettled defence can recover — and nobody does both these things better than Keita.

This is also why it is so puzzling that Klopp, who values these attributes more than any other modern manager, refuses to start the 23-year-old on a consistent basis. Even though they were part of last season's magical run to the Champions League final, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, and Georginio Wijnaldum remain uninspiring midfielders without a creative spark.

When matched-up against more technically-gifted players in Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho, Liverpool's midfield trio often appeared laboured and pedestrian. If the Reds want to push Manchester City for the Premier League title, they will need to integrate Keita into the starting line-up and cater to his numerous strengths.