Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailed Takumi Minamino.
MInamino was instrumental as the Reds beat Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool progressed to the next round of the cup after drubbing the League One side 7-2. It took only nine minutes for Liverpool to open the scoring thanks to Xherdan Shaqiri’s brilliant free-kick, marking his first goal in the competition.
Soon after, Minamino doubled the Reds’ lead thanks to a fine shot from outside the penalty area. Curtis Jones added two quick goals to make it 4-0 before the Japanese international netted his second. Marko Grujic and Divock Origi also found the net, the former scoring his first competitive goal for Liverpool. Lincoln City also scored thanks to Tayo Edun and Lewis Motsma.
Minamino had a pretty good evening at Sincil Bank, providing the assist for Origi’s goal in addition to his brace.
"Following the match, Klopp was all praise for the 25-year-old. Speaking to Liverpool’s official website, the German said: “I loved Taki’s game tonight, to be honest – it was absolutely outstanding and involved in so many situations. More and more, I think we all realise where his qualities are.“Wherever he will play in the end, he will end up in the center: if he plays on the left wing or the right wing, he will play in the half-spaces or the center because that’s where he has his real strength.“He looked really well. The opponent had to kick off seven times [after our goals] and the first guy who chased the opponent again when they received the pass was Taki. He set the rhythm for all these pressing and counter-pressing situations, so I really, really liked the game tonight.”"
Last season, Minamino featured in 14 matches across all competitions for Liverpool after joining from Red Bull Salzburg. He couldn’t get a goal or an assist and wasn’t particularly good.
However, the 25-year-old seems to be settling in at the club and has so far done fairly well. In three matches in 2020/21, Minamino has amassed as many goals and an assist.
He seems a lot more confident and we could see better performances from him this season. Having players like Minamino are a reason why Liverpool could have better outings in cup competitions this term.
Following his brace, the Japanese attacker became the first player from his nation to score in the League Cup since Shinji Okazaki against Chelsea, also in September, four years ago.
There’s every chance of Minamino not starting in Monday’s match against Arsenal but Klopp could well bring him on as a substitute during the game.