Naby Keita is going to take up an iconic jersey number as the former RB Leipzig man tries to prove his value to the club ahead of the new season.

The Liverpool Echo claims that the Guinea midfielder has requested the Anfield hierarchy for the No. 8 jersey before the start of the season.

That number has not been used by the club since legend Steven Gerrard left for LA Galaxy but it seems like Keita will not be bowed by the immense pressure that the number carries with it.

The report from the Echo also claims that the former Leipzig man is signing autographs and is using the number 8 on them.

Keita was one of our important targets and we worked hard to get him from the Bundesliga side. We could not bring him to the club at the start of last season but he will be a valuable asset for us in the coming season.

The Guinean would form a brilliant partnership with Fabinho, another new signing for us, and we might just be able to dominate the opposition from midfield.

Taking up Gerrard’s number shows just the confidence that Keita has in himself and it would be amazing to see the No.8 back at Anfield next season.