‘Jurgen said wow’: Lijnders claims Klopp dazzled by Liverpool ace who hasn’t played this season

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Liverpool assistant boss Pep Lijnders claims Jurgen Klopp has been dazzled by Takumi Minamino’s ability to get one-v-one with the goalkeeper.

The Reds are in Carabao Cup action tonight, taking on Norwich City after a 3-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace.

With so many games on the horizon, Liverpool boss Klopp may well rotate his side for tonight’s game.

Minamino will be one player desperate for a chance as he looks to get his Liverpool career off the ground.

Minamino yet to feature for Liverpool this season

Japanese international Minamino returned to Liverpool this summer after a loan spell at Southampton earlier this year.

The 26-year-old scored twice in 10 games for the Saints, showing some promise.

Minamino featured for Liverpool in pre-season, but has yet to make a competitive appearance this term.

Minamino was on the bench for Liverpool against Palace, but he went unused.

Tonight’s game seems like the ideal time to play Minamino, who hasn’t quite lived up to his billing at Anfield.

Klopp impressed with Minamino

Klopp’s assistant Pep Lijnders has now told the Liverpool Echo that the Reds boss has been impressed with Minamino.

Minamino’s ability to go through one-v-one with the goalkeeper seems to have impressed the German.

Minamino doesn’t have blistering pace, but his movement means he is still able to get through on goal.

Lijnders believes the best is yet to come from Minamino, who is now ‘good to go’ after an injury with Japan.

“Taki had a really good pre-season and it was really important for him having gone to Southampton,” said Lijnders. “It was a good decision for him to have a full pre-season with us. He made an impact and we were really enthusiastic about him.”

“Then he had a small issue with the national team, he was not 100% fit but he’s back now and good to go. We are really happy that he is part of our team.”

“Jurgen said ‘wow, the amount of times Taki goes one-v-one against the goalkeeper’ and I said it shows you don’t need super, super speed to be one-v-one against the goalkeeper. He is a very natural, intelligent mover. That’s what we need. He has good timing to move in behind, good combination play when the players are close to him. He only can become better. That’s what we like. That’s why we bought him, because we saw the potential not the end product,” he added.