Liverpool

Liverpool: Journalist believes Minamino was signed as an exact backup for Firmino

|
Image for Liverpool: Journalist believes Minamino was signed as an exact backup for Firmino

Josh Williams has been speaking about Takumi Minamino on the latest episode of the Blood Red podcast.

Liverpool appear to be getting back to their fluid, free-flowing best that saw them storm to the Premier League title two seasons ago, especially in the final third, having scored 18 goals already this season in all competitions.

Does Minamino have a future at Liverpool?

Yes!

Yes!

No!

No!

This has been without usual starter Roberto Firmino, who has missed the last three games with an injury, and despite Williams thinking that Takumi Minamino was signed to be a ‘beta version‘ of Firmino, he is yet to feature in a league game this season, with Diogo Jota preferred to the Japan international.

Williams has been speaking about what he expected from Minamino when he joined Liverpool.

“I’m convinced Minamino was signed as some kind of, like, beta version of Firmino. So that if Firmino was ever out, you could get a similar profile of player in the team, I don’t think it’s quite worked out so much with Minamino.”

TIF Thoughts on Minamino…

Liverpool moved for the Japanese striker in January 2020 after coming up against him twice in the group stages of the Champions League when he played for RB Salzburg, at the same time as Erling Haaland, and the now-Liverpool man managed to score once and register an assist in two games against the Reds, something that may have persuaded Jurgen Klopp and the club to bring him to Anfield.

Last season, Minamino was only handed two league starts up until January, which saw him leave on loan to seek regular first-team opportunities and he did just that at Southampton, however, his two goals in nine starts appear to have done nothing to tempt Klopp into starting him in the Premier League while Firmino remains absent.

1 of 15

How many goals has Mohamed Salah scored in all competitions this season?

Minamino did impress in the Carabao Cup midweek against Norwich City as he scored twice in a 3-0 victory, but with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Jota all being rested, it would appear that the striker will be sentenced back to the bench this weekend.

Therefore, you can see why Williams believes Minamino’s move to Anfield has not been an overwhelming success.

Share this article