Liverpool might need to call on Takumi Minamino early in 2022.
That’s because the Reds are going to be missing some massive players for Jurgen Klopp.
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are set to miss a chunk of Liverpool’s winter due to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Thing is, Klopp doesn’t have much strength in depth when it comes to the wide positions.
The 26-year-old has only managed 38 minutes of Premier League football so far this season.
And that right there illustrates Liverpool’s reliance on Salah and Mane, who have a combined 28 goals already this season.
But asked by Mane and Salah’s inevitable departure later this month, Andy Robertson named the Japan international has somebody who could fill in for one of those stars.
He told Optus Sport: “You see people like Takumi coming on. He’s probably been unlucky this season with the amount of game time he’s got. He’s really good in training.”
Not the answer
Robertson is being kind here, if we’re honest.
Listen, Minamino, a £7.2 million signing two years ago, has his qualities but let’s not pretend he’s anywhere close to Mane or Salah.
There’s a reason why Klopp has used him for a combined 38 minutes in the Premier League this season and it’s because he isn’t a patch on either player.
Liverpool are absolutely brilliant right now and scored another four goals at Everton on Wednesday night.
And yet, the Anfield outift aren’t even top of the Premier League – or second.
In fact, Klopp’s side are third in the standings, two points behind Chelsea at the summit.
And that’s important to note because if Liverpool still aren’t top of the pile with the two African stars, losing both for a period could be detrimental for their title hopes.
According to The Echo, the duo – and Naby Keita – could leave for the competition on December 27.
Fans of the Merseyside giants better hope Minamino is as good in training as Robertson claims.
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