Liverpool fans on social media have praised Takumi Minamino for the role he played in their FA Cup triumph, despite him not making the 20-man squad for Saturday's final.
Jurgen Klopp omitted the Japan international, 27, in favour of Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane and Divock Origi. It proved to be a wise decision, as the Reds defeated Chelsea on penalties to lift the cup. Minamino hasn't played a competitive club game for nearly two months, making just 23 appearances this term.
Yet Liverpool fans still appreciate the role he played in their most recent triumph. Minamino featured in the first four rounds of this season's FA Cup, scoring three goals to help Klopp's side beat Shrewsbury, Cardiff, Norwich and Nottingham Forest. His two goals against Norwich proved to be particularly decisive.
Minamino had a similar impact in their EFL Cup triumph. He didn't feature in that final, either, but played in every game prior - scoring four goals and providing one assist. The Reds overcame Norwich, Preston, Leicester, Arsenal and Chelsea to win that tournament.
The forward, who joined Liverpool from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020, has finished the season as their top scorer in both the FA Cup and EFL Cup. His move to Anfield hasn't worked out as planned, playing just 54 games in two-and-a-half years and spending time on loan at Premier League rivals Southampton. His contract expires in two years.
"As a player I always want to play every match," Minamino told a Liverpool matchday programme in December. "I think a kind of frustration is common for the players [who don’t play] but I like to turn this frustration into positiveness with my attitude.
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"I put in a lot of effort every day to play more and to get game time, I want to play more games and I want to prove to myself that I can do much better, so I use my frustration to turn everything positive.
"The manager always tries to keep the players’ motivation higher. When I’m not playing in a match he always speaks to me and helps keep my motivation high. He is always very fair to every player so I quite admire his management skills."
Minamino went on to say: "As a footballer the ages between 26 and 30 are your best time, the time when you can play at your peak as a player. For myself at these ages I would like to play as many games as possible.
"But I am at the best club in the world and I can spend the best time of my career at this club. As I have said before, I would like to contribute to this club as much as possible. That is the best thing I can do."
When asked why he sent Minamino out on loan in February 2021, Klopp said: "Takumi is a long-term project, always was. We see a lot of potential in Takumi and it makes absolute sense for him to play maybe 17 games in the Premier League.
"And then he comes back in a different mindset, confidence level all these kind of things so I hope it is a win-win situation. He just has to enjoy football again there. He’s an outstanding professional, a top talent and a really, really good player so it’s all good."
