Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Naby Keita’s first goal for the club helped in his performance in the second half against Southampton on Friday night.

The Merseyside giants came back from a goal down to win 3-1 at St. Mary’s Stadium to move to the top of the Premier League table for the time being.




Shane Long gave an early lead to the home side, but Keita scored his first goal for Liverpool in the 36th minute to equalise, with Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson getting on the scoresheet in the final ten minutes to seal the points for the Reds.

Keita has struggled to become a certain starter in his first season at Liverpool following his big-money move from RB Leipzig last summer.
 


Klopp admits that the Liverpool players are happy that the midfielder got his first goal and believes it was clear from his performance in the second half that it boosted his confidence.

The Liverpool manager told the club’s official website: “They were all really happy for him in the dressing room, he had multiple hugs.
 

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“At 1-1, because we wanted to win, it was not the goal, so all the boys obviously decided not to celebrate it like crazy because there was still a job to do.

"Still, a fantastic moment for a first goal.

“Naby had two difficult situations when he lost two balls in the beginning, but then he was in the game and helped us so much.

“In the second half he was there, he was there for the small passes, for closing the right spaces, passing in the right spaces, so that was then really good and helped him a lot for sure.”

Keita has made only 13 league starts for Liverpool this season and Reds fans will be hoping the goal boosts him going forward.