The month of January, on paper, signalled a chance for Takumi Minamino however in actuality, it outlined his standing in Jurgen Klopp‘s squad.
Since arriving in January 2020, it has been removed from a clean journey for Minamino who joined a title-winning facet on the eve of a pandemic that’s nonetheless very a lot ongoing.
It’s removed from uncommon for brand new arrivals to wish a bedding-in interval below Klopp, one solely want to have a look at Andy Robertson and Fabinho as prime examples.
However whereas these two have thrived, breaking right into a prolific entrance three – now entrance 4 – has been a feat that’s not easy for Minamino.
The Africa Cup of Nations offered the opening, however as an alternative, it solely magnified his lowly place within the pecking order.
The defining week
All through Liverpool’s five-game run with out their AFCON trio, Minamino would function in every for a complete of simply 208 minutes – nevertheless it amounted to only a solitary begin.
Contemplating Divock Origi‘s harm amid Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane‘s absence, there was a transparent house begging to be stuffed by the 27-year-old, Klopp’s phrases even prompt as a lot.
“He’s again and crucial for us, very, crucial – particularly when we have now a whole lot of video games developing and we all know that two of our foremost guys up entrance aren’t right here,” Klopp stated after the win over Shrewsbury, which noticed Minamino come off the bench and rating.
It marked Minamino’s return after a minor harm on the again finish of December, time to kick on. However solely it was not.
A begin towards Arsenal within the first leg of the League Cup semi-final would, sadly, be outlined by his late blazing miss regardless of his apparent eagerness to make a mark. Time to kick on. However solely it was not.
The three video games that adopted noticed a youngster and a midfielder opted for within the ahead line, a range that stated extra about Minamino than it did for Kaide Gordon and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Managing his minutes towards Brentford was comprehensible contemplating the fast turnaround after harm, however the second leg at Arsenal and the journey to Crystal Palace solely positioned a much bigger highlight on Minamino’s place on the perimeter.
These two video games made it three successive begins on the bench at a time when Liverpool’s two largest hitters up high had been absent. It’s damning.
Minamino is evidently a confidence participant and the attention that each look is an audition will create an setting that’s not at all times conducive for a participant to thrive.
Whereas Gordon and Oxlade-Chamberlain carved out a place on the right-wing alongside Firmino and Jota, Minamino proved ineffective on his unfavoured facet.
The will to not shift the No. 20 to accommodate the Japan worldwide was a transparent indicator of a want to not blunt the efficiency on each wings for a participant needing to construct his confidence.
Liverpool may in poor health afford an unbalanced ahead line when the stakes had been excessive, but when Klopp was to not belief Minamino when his two stars had been unavailable, what does it imply for his future?
What subsequent?
At the beginning of 2021, Minamino joined Southampton on mortgage to guide many down the road of pondering it was the start of the tip for him at Liverpool.
Klopp refuted the concept saying, “Takumi is a long-term mission, at all times was.” However does that also stand a yr on?
The 27-year-old has been unable to claim himself on the sport, has appeared weak and at instances reveals flashes of his capabilities however usually it’s all only a second too gradual.
He has a complete of 49 appearances for the Reds – solely 18 of which have been as a part of the XI and even then 10 of these had been in both the FA Cup or League Cup.
A January transfer now could be unlikely, until a proposal got here in that turned Liverpool’s head, however one can assume they are going to be listening in the summertime and recouping their preliminary £7.25 million outlay would be the place to begin.
Having been missed in favour of a 17-year-old, a really proficient one at that, and a midfielder this month, and with Liverpool having eyes on bolstering their assault in the summertime – the writing appears to be on the wall.
A proficient participant in his personal proper nevertheless it has didn’t work out at Liverpool. It’s time to kick on, maybe simply not at Anfield.