Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has raved about Takumi Minamino and believes that he is a better player since his return from Southampton, as quoted in The Liverpool Echo.
Minamino, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a winger, spent the second half of last season on loan at Southampton from Liverpool.
The 26-year-old Japan international is now part of the Reds’ first-team squad.
Liverpool boss Klopp has been impressed with Minamino’s finishing prowess, and believes that he is now a completely different player.
The Liverpool Echo quotes Klopp as saying about Minamino: “Everything helps Taki. Taki is really an outstanding talent. You come from Asia, you go to Salzburg. You come from Salzburg and go to Liverpool.
“Liverpool not in the best phase of their lives, it’s not that we were flying all the time. He came in here when everything was difficult.
“We had no supporters in the stadium and all that stuff. Then you need to get used to the Premier League. That’s how it is.
“It helped massively that he went to Southampton. He came back a completely different player. You can see that now. His finishes are really incredible, how he connects the game and drops at the right moment.
“He is a different package now and that was really helpful. Players need time and we just don’t give them often enough. He used that time so that is good.”
Growing in importance
It took a while for Minamino to get used to the Premier League, but the Japan international now looks very settled in English football.
Now, of course, it is going to be hard for the 26-year-old to play week in and week out for Liverpool, but the signs are very positive and encouraging indeed for him.
The Liverpool no. 18 has scored two goals in one Carabao Cup appearance so far this season.
Minamino scored two goals in nine Premier League starts for Southampton during his loan spell last season.
With Liverpool aiming to win all the competitions they participate in this season, Minamino’s importance at Anfield is only going to grow.
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