Liverpool fans have been eagerly tracking the performances of Naby Keita in pre-season.

Having waited almost a year for Keita to pull on the famous red jersey, Kopites were itching to see him in action over the course of pre-season and the Guinea international has certainly impressed. 

Liverpool made an emphatic start to their summer preparations with a 7-0 thrashing of Chester, negotiated the challenge of Tranmere Rovers in a 3-2 win and scored a 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers.

There was also a disappointing 0-0 draw with Bury but fans probably won't like to dwell on that particular fixture.

Fans enjoyed Keita's performances throughout the matches and even noted how he formed an unlikely connection with out-of-favour striker Daniel Sturridge.

Keita impressing in pre-season

However, there was also the acknowledgement that Keita and Liverpool were only playing against weak opposition but that would change in the coming weeks.

The Reds kicked off their International Champions Cup campaign against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday night in what proved a much sterner task.

Keita didn't make the starting XI yet Jurgen Klopp introduced him into the game at half-time.

Riise praises Keita on Twitter

It wasn't long before Liverpool fans were raving about the 23-year-old's work-rate in the midfield and his creative runs into the final third.

And it wasn't just supporters who were impressed by the showing, with former player John Arne Riise feeling it necessary to tweet about Keita's performance.

You can just sense the excitement in his tweet and it bodes very well for the season ahead.

Check out Riise's tweet below:

Riise is sold already.

Liverpool fans had long suspected that Keita was perfectly suited for their team and a Klopp side in general, and that has been confirmed during his first handful of outings for the Reds.

There's every reason to suggest his physicality will be perfect for the Premier League and his attacking mindset will work a treat with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

However, Keita couldn't do enough to win the game for Liverpool with Klopp's former team taking the victory in Charlotte.

Virgil van Dijk headed the Reds into a first-half lead, before a Christian Pulisic brace and a late goal from Jacob Bruun Larsen put the game to bed.

That being said, the result will do little to deter Liverpool fans' excitement around Keita and with good reason at that.

Fixtures with Manchester City, Manchester United, Napoli and Torino lay ahead for Keita to impress further.

Do you think Keita will succeed at Liverpool this season? Have your say in the comments section below.