Takumi Minamino hasn’t been much help to Liverpool in the Premier League table this season.
Before this week, the Japan international hadn’t started a single game in England’s top flight, only managing 76 minutes overall.
Despite his lack of playing time in this competition, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp started him in the visit to Southampton on Tuesday night – and the former Salzburg winger responded with what could prove to be an absolutely massive goal.
After the Saints earned a shock lead, Minamino equalised for the Reds later in the first half, before Joel Matip struck midway through the second half to give Klopp’s side a narrow 2-1 victory to move one point behind Manchester City with one Premier League game to go.
Interestingly, this was Minamino’s 10th goal from nine starts across all competitions this season [Transfermarkt].
And Matip has lavished praise on the 27-year-old, describing him as ‘amazing’.
He told Liverpool’s official website: “It’s just amazing. His whole game, he was there in every second, he was always an option, he was always a threat for the opponent. He just did brilliant.”
Despite his minutes, Minamino is clearly a good player and even Klopp himself admitted after the game that he regrets not being able to use him more, saying it was ‘criminal’ how little the 2019 signing had played this season.
Even Ralph Hasenhuttl showered praise on the player he signed on loan from Liverpool last January, but couldn’t re-sign him on a permanent basis before this season began.
Praise from both managers illustrates what a game-changing talent Minamino is.
He has helped Liverpool in the Premier League table, with his goal bringing the Reds back to within a point of Pep Guardiola’s side – who face Aston Villa at the Etihad on Sunday – and if Klopp’s side do win the title, well Minamino’s contribution will have been limited, but enormous at the same time.
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