Liverpool players Naby Keita and Takumi Minamino are trending.
Fresh after the 2-1 loss to Arsenal, the two have been the talk of Twitter. It’s interesting how the focus always shifts from who didn’t start, rather than who did, when Liverpool suffer defeat.
There was some controversy when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was selected ahead of Naby Keita. It was a decision that didn’t really pay off, although the former Gunner didn’t have a particularly bad game.
Takumi Minamino was never going to make the first team ahead of Roberto Firmino, and that decision almost payed off as Firmino chased down Emi Martinez and saw one blocked clearance strike the post.
Minamino has struggled a little bit this season, but looked much more at home playing centrally. He’s been shifted out wide as a replacement for Mohamed Salah, but was sent on in place of Firmino and played well.
But he’s also trending because of a penalty box incident. The Japanese international came under pressure in the area but then chose to remain on his feet – much to the chagrin of many on Twitter.
A lot of fans felt he should have gone down and forced the referee into making a decision, which could have gone the way of Liverpool if you take previously penalties into account.
Was happy with Naby, Fabinho & Mane today. Minamino was really biting on everything. Shaqiri looked healthy.
— LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) July 15, 2020
Really disappointed that our defense in the first half let us down so badly.
Need a lethal finisher and someone capable of breaking down a parked bus.
Naby Keita should’ve started vs Burnley and he should’ve started vs Arsenal. I just don’t get the thought process of dropping him when he’s been our best player since the restart.
— Samuel (@SamueILFC) July 15, 2020
Keita has been one of the better midfielders since the restart and played really well against Burnley, but Jurgen Klopp hasn’t rewarded the Guinea international with further opportunities to start.
He looked likely when he came on and stretched the Arsenal defence, but it was too little too late as the Reds couldn’t force their way past Mikel Arteta’s innovative 0-0-10 formation.
Arsenal managed to hang on to all three points thanks to goals scored purely as a result of Liverpool error, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel and it takes the form of Minamino and Keita.