Takumi Minamino made his first start – and indeed his first appearance of any nature – for Liverpool against Everton on Sunday in the FA Cup.
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The 22-time Japan international has admitted that it was an “intense” start to life at Anfield, and the 24-year-old struggled to make an impact on the game – he was unable to muster up a single shot on target or even make a key pass against the Toffees. He ended up making way in the 70th minute of the match, and his influence on proceedings had been minimal.
There has been plenty of talk about his arrival, of course. Last week, Alan Shearer told the BBC (via The Daily Mirror): “He scored [at Anfield against Liverpool], 24 years of age. When you look at the price that they’ve paid for him, just over £7m was his release clause, he’ll fit perfectly I think into this Liverpool team – It’s going to be very difficult to get into it. In terms of where he plays he can play anywhere along that forward line. He’s already got nine goals this season so what an opportunity for him, starting with today.”
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It is unlikely that his performance versus Carlo Ancelotti’s men will have changed his mind in regards to that, but anyone who may have thought he would be able to hit the ground running as he suits Jurgen Klopp’s style are sadly mistaken.
Whilst he performed to a strong level in the Champions League – he scored two goals and provided three assists despite RB Salzburg being knocked out in the group stages of the competition – that represented a minor proportion of his season to date. He played 16 matches in the Austrian league and cup and, although he managed seven goals and eight assists in those matches as well, they came against vastly inferior opposition. Salzburg are so far ahead of their rivals it is almost embarrassing – they have won the last six league titles and five of the last six domestic cups.
His previous club before that was Cerezo Osaka in Japan – a league that is perhaps even weaker than the Austrian one. Quite simply, Minamino has never played at a level anywhere close to the Premier League, at least not on a regular basis. It will take him time to get used to the speed and physical nature of the division – fortunately, he should get the time to do it gradually as Roberto Firmino continues to be the first-choice striker. Don’t expect too much of him too soon. There is every chance he will prove his worth, but it will just take time.
Elsewhere, Liverpool are linked with a £70m move for this Premier League star.