Takumi Minamino trends after Community Shield upset
Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino is trending.
The Japanese forward came off the bench to score his first goal for the club and level things up against Arsenal in the Community Shield.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring but Liverpool were able to bring one back, although they eventually lost in the penalty shoot-out after Rhian Brewster missed his spot kick.
Takumi Minamino didn’t start as Jurgen Klopp fielded his first-choice front three. As a potential sign of things to come, the former RB Salzburg man came on and managed to make a difference.
He’ll find starting games difficult due to the strength of those in his position – Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah both occupy where he could play.
That goal is one of the reasons why Minamino is trending, but he’s also going viral because people are excited that this could really give him a push in the right direction.
The Athletic’s James Pearce said that he’s been impressing coaching staff during preseason, and this is another step on the ladder to making a success of his Liverpool career.
That should do Takumi Minamino's confidence the world of good. Finally off the mark for #LFC. Reward for the progress he's made. Has impressed the coaching staff in pre-season after taking some time to adjust to the team's style of play.
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) August 29, 2020
Paul Gorst, writing in the Echo, said that Klopp shares that exciting and confidence for the future.
"“It was not just the goal today, he is really good in small spaces, his first touch is exceptional and then in his decision making in between the lines is really quick. That helps as well.“He can be a real player for us, that is clear.”"
With 42 goals and 30 assists in 136 Austrian Bundesliga games as well as seven Champions League appearances, the 25-year-old impressed for Salzburg and Liverpool moved quickly to secure his transfer.
We saw how good the forward was when the Reds took on the Austrian side, but we’re yet to really see that at Anfield. Klopp always has a fairly large adjustment process to the side and we’re watching Minamino come to the end of that period.
Scoring will do incredibly well for his confidence, as will getting one in early in the season. He’s going viral mainly for that reason, with a lot of Reds feeling exciting for 2020/2021 and keen to see what the forward can bring to the side.
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After making his first appearances on the right, could we see Minamino push Roberto Firmino for a starting role?