Jurgen Klopp believes it was ‘logical’ that Takumi Minamino played a big role as Liverpool beat Norwich City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, via quotes by LiverpoolFC.com.
The Reds clinched a 3-0 win at Carrow Road to secure their place in the fourth-round draw. Minamino opened and ended the scoring for Liverpool with goals in the fourth and 80th-minutes, sandwiching a Divock Origi strike.
Klopp introduced Minamino into his plans for the first time this term after overlooking the Japan international for the last month. He watched four of the Anfield outfit’s five Premier League fixtures from the bench, as well as against AC Milan.
Minamino took his early goal well, drilling a low shot under Norwich’s Angus Gunn after Origi’s knock down. The £75k-a-week playmaker kept pressure on the Canaries and often found space in behind the home defence. Paying off when he squeezed home his second.
Klopp believes it was only logical that Minamino had a big say in Liverpool’s performance at Norwich in the cup. Now, the German expects the 26-year-old to have a big say more often after overcoming fitness and injury issues.
“It is just a logical thing,” Klopp said. “He is in a really good moment; I know he didn’t play too much, but in the wrong moment he was injured, coming back and stuff like this. It is sometimes not so easy, but he is a top character, and he enjoyed the game tonight. That was important for him and important for us, so that will help him and will help us.”
Klopp explains Minamino role change in Liverpool win
Minamino initially opened the action at Norwich occupying a role on the wing before Klopp moved him into Liverpool’s midfield. The Reds boss explained that his decision to switch the £7.25m signing from RB Salzburg in 2020 was to better utilise the half-spaces.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had not shown Klopp enough from those areas during the earlier stages while in a central position. So, the German wanted to see if moving the 28-year-old out wide would allow him the freedom to influence proceedings. Noting:
“We wanted him as a footballer in midfield because Taki looked really strong today. We didn’t use these half-spaces enough, so we put him there. We wanted Oxlade then with a little bit more freedom on the left-wing. That was the reason, just so that he can connect the game. Taki is a smart player, and he can play different positions, that was the reason.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s good moments in either role proved very infrequent at Carrow Road. The £120k-a-week dynamo made repeated mistakes and held onto possession for too long, too often. He eventually came good in the closing stages to find Minamino to score again, but Liverpool – and Klopp – would have expected more from the former Arsenal winger.
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