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Roy Keane delivers 11-word verdict on Liverpool star, lost ball 16 times

Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 02:  Takumi Minamino of Liverpool applauds their support after the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Liverpool and Norwich City at Anfield on March 02, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images

Roy Keane has singled out Takumi Minamino for special praise following Liverpool’s FA Cup victory tonight.

Jurgen Klopp’s outfit moved into the quarter-final of the competition for the first time under the Germana with a narrow 2-1 win over Norwich City at Anfield.

A double from the Japan international ultimately proved decisive for a Liverpool side that won the Carabao Cup after two hours of football against Chelsea on Sunday evening.

Minamino didn’t play a minute at Wembley, but the former Salzburg attacker started tonight and the Reds certainly looked to benefit from his freshness.

Keane told ITV directly after the encounter: “Takumi Minamino deserves a lot of credit. He should be delighted.”

Wasteful in possession?

The 26-year-old was the difference for Liverpool tonight but it wasn’t a perfect performance from Minamino by any means.

One of his goals was particularly lovely, but the attacker still lost possession on 16 occasions [SofaScore], illustrating that he wasn’t hugely economic with the ball despite his heroics where it mattered.

But Keane is right; Minamino does deserve the adulation that’ll follow over the coming days.

He hasn’t been a roaring success since joining Liverpool a little over two years ago – and even spent the second half of last season on loan at Southampton – and therefore nights like this will mean the world to him.

PETERBOROUGH, ENGLAND - MARCH 01:  TV pundits Roy Keane and Joe Cole look on during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Peterborough United and Manchester City at Weston Homes Stadium Stadium on March 1, 2022 in Peterborough, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images