Joel Matip has hailed Takumi Minamino as the true unsung hero of Liverpool's season with the Premier League in their sights because of his impact.
There is one game left this season in the league with the Reds pushing Manchester City the entire way - though they have not yet managed a telling punch on Pep Guardiola's men. As the domestic campaign looks to draw to a close, there is just one point to separate the two titans.
But it could have been all over on Tuesday night when Liverpool took on Southampton at St Mary's and hearts were fluttering after 13 minutes. Nathan Redmond had put the Saints ahead, which would have meant that the title would have headed to the Etihad.
However, with nearly 30 minutes played, Minamino sprung up with a delightful strike to leave Alex McCarthy rooted and draw the Reds level. Matip would go on to grab the winner but the Cameroonian only had praise for the other scorer on the night.
“It’s just amazing,” he said. “His whole game, he was there in every second, he was always an option, he was always a threat for the opponent. He just did brilliant.”
That goal took Minamino to 10 for the season despite having just nine starts across all competitions. It is a startling stat for a player that is often forgotten about since his arrival from RB Salzburg in 2020.
Nevertheless, the Japan international is hugely popular among the fans at Anfield, who love his energy and non-stop spirit. And that feeling is shared in the dressing room as evident from Matip's comments.
And even Jurgen Klopp seemed to agree that Minamino is severely underused - despite being the man to make the decisions at Anfield. “It’s a crime! I apologise! Crazy! People ask me if it’s hard to pick a line-up,” he said.
“The football we could play was really good. It’s hard [to leave people out]. I expect them to react like they do, but it’s not normal. It’s special. Whatever happens, happens because the group is pretty, pretty special.
“Actually, I’m so happy about the performance, it was a bit touching to be honest. It was like ‘Wow, these boys!’ It’s like having Ferraris in the garage and then you let them out and they play like this. Harvey, not sure when he last played. Curtis, no rhythm. Takumi Minamino, it’s a crime he’s not playing more often. Oxlade didn’t even play and he’s in outstanding shape."
