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Naby Keita is no stranger to handling pressure and criticism.

Liverpool's £52.75million signing from RB Leipzig has 13million people willing him on back home in Guinea.

He's an icon in the West African country but with that adulation comes incredible scrutiny.

When Guinea failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017, it was captain Keita who carried the can.

That made it all the sweeter when back in November he helped Paul Put's side book their place at the 2019 tournament with a game to spare.

“It's great that we are actually qualified,” Keita told Liverpool's official magazine.

“Everyone in the country was very sad last time when we didn't make it.

"I got a lot of stick myself and people criticised me because I am almost the figurehead of the team.

Keep up to date with all the latest Liverpool news and transfer rumours HERE

“I was playing in the Bundesliga in Germany so I was someone who played at the highest level so people were angry with me.

“I defended myself and said 'look, there's a squad of 23 and we have always said that that we win together and lose together' and that we were all responsible in good times and bad.

“As skipper I felt that failure to qualify. The responsibility falls at my feet and that's what it can be like in Africa.”

It was also good preparation for life in the spotlight at Anfield. It's been a stop-start first season at Liverpool for Keita.

There have been flashes of brilliance but injuries have hampered his progress and he has struggled for consistency. He has only made nine Premier League starts.

The 23-year-old hasn't been helped by being stationed wide on the left at times rather than operating in his favoured central midfield role.

Read how the game unfolded here

However, Keita is confident that he will kick on and play an important part in the pursuit of Premier League and Champions League glory over the coming months.

The decision to move the Africa Cup of Nations from January to the summer was welcomed by Keita as it means he won't be missing key games at club level.

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will also be involved when the tournament kicks off in Egypt in June.

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“I think it's great that this decision has been taken and the fact that it's going to move to the summer is going to help us a lot,” Keita said.

“It's really positive. It will help us and it will help the club as well because it will mean we won't be missing so many games.

“From a point of view of both maintaining regular form and in my case the settling in process over the full season, it's really positive because we won't have any break in the continuity.”

His return to Liverpool's starting line up for the win over Crystal Palace at Anfield last weekend was celebrated back home in Guinea. He wants to keep making them proud.

Is this the reason why Naby Keita has struggled at Liverpool?

It's an absolutely unbelievable thing because the way people get in front of the TVs when Liverpool play, you'd think it's almost like when our national team is playing," he added.

"I've been told that if the fans back in Guinea have all switched on their TVs and I'm not in the starting XI sometimes they can be angry and frustrated.

"I'm the only Guinean player who is at a top club so I have to work really hard. Everyone believes in me back home so not only do I have to do my job here for all the fans at Liverpool, but I've got to do it for the whole of my country back home."

* Don't miss February's Official LFC Magazine for exclusive interviews with Keita and Reds vice-captain James Milner.