Takumi Minamino is playing like somebody who has found a new home away from Liverpool, according to Joe Cole.
The Reds gave Minamino to Southampton on a half-season loan in January and it’s already looking like a perfect union.
On Saturday, the Japan international, a £7 million signing by Liverpool last winter, scored his second Premier League goal since joining the Saints.
A through ball from Nathan Redmond saw Minamino go through one-on-one with Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who was fooled by a number of dummy shots from the former Salzburg attacker who showed remarkable composure and confidence to then roll the ball home.
Liverpool fans hadn’t seen much of quality moments like that from the 27-year-old since his arrival.
And Cole, speaking to BT Sport at half-time, feels that St Mary’s is now where he belongs.
He said: “Minamino recognises there’s an inch of space and it’s all about the quality of pass from Redmond into him and his finish is exquisite. This is what we should have seen from a Liverpool player. He’s here, he’s found a home and it’s a great finish.”
For whatever reason, Ralph Hassenhuttl is drawing a standard of performance out of the player that Jurgen Klopp wasn’t able to.
It’s worth pointing out that it’s easier to express yourself on the pitch when you’re actually playing, which wasn’t always the case at Liverpool because of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah’s presence.
But beyond that, Minamino does also look a lot more assured than he ever did on Merseyside and it’ll be interesting to see whether Liverpool plan to keep him or sell him this summer.
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