When Jurgen Klopp bemoaned the number of medals his squad received for winning the FA Cup, one player will have been at the forefront of his mind - Takumi Minamino.
The Japan international was Liverpool’s leading goalscorer in both domestic cup competitions, scoring four times in the League Cup and three times in the FA Cup. Yet at the business end of both tournaments he was missing.
Benched in favour of youngster Kaide Gordon for the League Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal, he was an unused substitute for the final against Chelsea. Meanwhile, he wasn’t even in the matchday squad for the Reds’ FA Cup semi-final and final victories over Man City and Thomas Tuchel’s side.
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As a result, when Liverpool celebrated their latest trophy win on Saturday, the forward was pictured on the pitch in kit with his team-mates, holding aloft the trophy but lacking a winner’s medal.
As Klopp’s side chase an unprecedented quadruple, it is Minamino who has been the fall guy, often travelling with the squad as the extra man but failing to make the bench. But against Southampton his patience was rewarded with a first appearance since the FA Cup quarter-final victory over Nottingham Forest before the March international break.
Making a first Premier League appearance since the Reds’ February win over Norwich City, he has understandably fallen down the pecking order following the January arrival of Luis Diaz. Yet against his former loan club, he hardly looked like a player who hadn’t played for two months with the forward eager to catch Klopp’s eye.
It was the Japan international who levelled the scores in the first half with an emphatic finish from Diogo Jota’s lay-off, for his tenth goal of the season. And by doing so, he actually made it goals in back-to-back Premier League starts for the Reds.
But unfortunately for Minamino, it has been 17 months since his last one, having scored in that 7-0 win over Crystal Palace in December 2020. Subsequently, his latest appearance at St. Mary’s was actually his first Premier League start since his time on the south coast, after spending the second half of last season on loan with Southampton.
Departing in search of starting football, that switch was meant to open the door to starting Premier League opportunities back at Anfield. Clearly that has not materialised and as a result, it would be no surprise if he was allowed to depart in the summer.
Liverpool still have a purpose for Minamino, as his showing at St. Mary’s proved. He linked up well with Roberto Firmino and Harvey Elliott down the right-hand side as he looked to make things happen. Yet wasn’t always on the same wavelength, rashly deciding to shoot in the second half with team-mates better placed while actually getting in the way and halting a couple of attacks on occasions.
Minamino can clearly score goals but he will rarely get the opportunity to do so with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz around, along with Jota and Firmino. Ultimately this opportunity only came because of the Egyptian’s injury and Klopp’s decision to rest the Senegalese and Colombian.
The increase to five substitutions across the board might present further opportunities next year, but he still remains way down the pecking order. And while the forward will continue to get cup opportunities and could replicate his League Cup and FA Cup successes of this season, unless Liverpool reach the finals of both again, is that really enough for the 27-year-old?
Having joined the Reds in January 2020, he has had two and a half years to stake his claim without ever forcing his way into the starting XI. Come the summer, a conversation needs to be had between club and player regarding what comes next for him.
If he is happy with his situation, then this bit-part role remains for him. But that suits Liverpool more than it does Minamino with those at Anfield knowing deep down that he deserves more.
And as Erling Haaland says his Borussia Dortmund farewells ahead of his imminent move to Man City, his former Red Bull Salzburg team-mate might end up having to make a transfer of his own this summer.
