‘Much better’ Klopp drops major hint about fringe man’s future
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has dropped a major hint.
The Reds drew 1-1 with Midtjylland in their final Champions League group game thanks to an early ice-breaker from Mohamed Salah.
Jurgen Klopp fielded a heavily rotated side that included Takumi Minamino, who now has 13 appearances for Liverpool this season.
Klopp started the Japanese international as part of his midfield three, a role he has only played once before. Naby Keita and Leighton Clarkson were picked alongside Minamino, who featured in the engine room against Brighton.
The former Salzburg star found life in midfield fairly difficult in that role against the Seagulls, but he looked more at home on Wednesday night and Klopp hinted that he might be able to convert the 25-year-old to that role.
"The Mirror reported that the manager said: “Takumi Minamino played now only the second time in that position – once in Brighton, which was a different game, and tonight it looked already much better.”"
While Minamino has played 13 games this season, he’s only started two in the Premier League and Champions League – four in total if you include cup competitions in that.
He’s been at the club for around a year now but has struggled to nail down a regular position. His transfer fee was fairly small so there’s no real pressure to get the Japan international into the side, and maybe that’s to his detriment.
Liverpool have a few midfielders out with injury, but when we see players like Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson returning to full fitness, we may see Minamino back in the forward line.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain appears to be on the long-term injury list, while Thiago’s progress back to the squad has been slow. This, coupled with Fabinho’s conversion to the centre-back, has left Klopp a little short in the engine room.
It’s within this context that Minamino has been played further down the field. Klopp has done this before and has played Xherdan Shaqiri in midfield.
Next. Caoimhin Kelleher creates a massive new problem. dark
Taki can only get better there, and it could offer him another route to the side.