Klopp assures that rarely-seen Liverpool star will ‘get his minutes’ after catching the eye
Takumi Minamino is expected to play more minutes this season, according to Jurgen Klopp. On Saturday afternoon, the Liverpool player scored his first goal at Anfield.
Takumi Minamino has had an unusual Liverpool career thus far. He arrived halfway through the title-winning season, with the Reds having already clinched the trophy.
Then came Covid-19, and football came to a halt just two months into Minamino’s tenure with the club.
We didn’t see much of him in the first half of last season, either, before he was loaned out to Southampton. His return to Liverpool for the 2021/22 season has also been sporadic.
27 Premier League minutes, 35 Champions League minutes, and two EFL Cup starts. It’s not much for a player we’re always hearing good things about.
For whatever reason, Minamino is rarely given meaningful game opportunities – even when things are going well. In fact, his last Premier League start for Liverpool came in December, when the Reds defeated Crystal Palace 7-0.
It’s undeniably strange to perform in a game like that and then never get another chance. But that pretty much sums up Minamino’s time at Liverpool.
On Saturday, however, the 26-year-old got a big moment – his first goal at Anfield. Minamino scored after getting on the end of a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross.
And, according to Jurgen Klopp, this could be the start of more regular minutes for Minamino this season.
“I knew before the game that Taki was pretty much our first option for changing in five positions,” said Klopp in his Tuesday press conference.
“It says a lot as he can play all of those positions. When he came in, it was just a wonderful moment – seconds on the pitch and scoring the goal.
“From that moment on, you can see that confidence now. How that confidence grew in the last few months and how good a player he is.
“Really pleased for him, really. He will get his minutes, definitely.”
We certainly hope so, and Minamino’s goal couldn’t have come at a better time. The campaign’s busiest period is approaching, with fixtures piling up in December. Minamino will be an option, either to provide fresh legs or to rest others.
Finally, we may get to see what he’s capable of with regular football. It’s been a long time in the making.
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Klopp assures that rarely-seen Liverpool star will ‘get his minutes’ after catching the eye
