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Jurgen Klopp’s program notes ahead of Liverpool’s win over Tottenham may have raised an eyebrow for the 2,000 fans who had a ticket to Anfield on Wednesday night.
“I’m not a fan of highlighting people,” Klopp wrote, “but I think Taki Minamino is someone I want to highlight. Taki has been sensational to us since he arrived. His attitude is of the highest level.
“His lack of early chances is not due to anything he is not doing well, it is because of how consistent the players have been in his position. Taki points the way for everyone when it comes to setting an example. “
Indeed, it is a rousing praise for Minamino, but if Klopp’s words suggest one thing, his actions point to another.
The Japan international was an unused substitute against Tottenham, despite Liverpool playing most of the second half at 1-1 and having Klopp’s hated switch from a Wednesday night game into a kickoff at 12. : 30 on Saturday, at Crystal Palace. Ironically, Klopp did not use a substitute, a move that will inevitably invite further scrutiny of his momentum to make five changes available to teams this season.
The Liverpool manager was vindicated when Roberto Firmino headed towards a late winner, but for Minamino, any buoyancy of Klopp’s notes would have been countered by staying on the bench alongside another endorsement of Liverpool’s attack on Divock Origi.
With the Christmas accessories now upon us, Minamino and Origi’s time on the field is sure to come, although Liverpool’s holiday schedule is not as exhausting as you might think; in fact, the most pronounced change is now that Liverpool are looking to dust themselves off for the trip to Selhurst Park.
It’s been almost a year since Minamino came to Liverpool after impressing Klopp with his Champions League displays against him for Red Bull Salzburg. A £ 7.25 million fee for a player who is now 25 is a cheap deal. And it’s been a disjointed first year in England for the Japanese international, whose adaptation period was interrupted by the coronavirus outbreak.
In 28 games for Liverpool, Minamino’s three goals came in the Community Shield and an EFL Cup win over Lincoln. His attitude has gotten him into the good books of Klopp, but it is the goals in the Premier League that will lead him to the Liverpool side.
The same applies to Origi, who must be seriously wondering about her Liverpool career at this stage. If he never plays for Liverpool again, he would leave Anfield a hero: he scored two goals in the 4-0 win over Barcelona, arguably Anfield’s best night, then scored another in the 2-0 win at the final of the Champions League over Tottenham.
But this season, the opportunities have been more fleeting than ever due to the tremendous impact of Diogo Jota and the disappointing impact of Origi himself. Now that Jota is injured for a couple of months, Origi has a little more opening and just has to accept it if she has any plans to play as the season progresses.
The 25-year-old Belgian forward has played just seven times this season, scoring once in Lincoln’s game. They got off to a rare start in the Champions League clash at home at Anfield, but fell terribly flat and Liverpool lost 2-0 to Atalanta.
Any opportunities that follow now will be vital and Origi will undoubtedly hope that a first-team opportunity falls on her way past the FA Cup clash against Aston Villa on January 8.
It could be that Palace on Saturday is just that chance. Liverpool have an eight day hiatus after that before hosting West Brom at Anfield on December 27. They will then travel to Newcastle on December 30 before completing the holiday calendar with a tough trip to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s stunning Southampton.
If Origi fails to make a step forward in his Atalanta display, it will depend on injuries for any kind of playing time between January and the end of the season and will almost certainly ruin his hopes of being included in the Belgian squad for the season. Euro 2020.
But for the here and now, it’s a useful option for Klopp. The Liverpool manager has shown that he is not afraid to rotate a lot for Premier League matches and now faces a dilemma ahead of the tough away game against Palace.
It would be a show of faith in Minamino or Origi if they played on Saturday and a great opportunity for either player to get some form at a crucial stage of the season.
A great story of Liverpool’s season has been about how their defense has escalated a series of major injuries. Now, with Jota out and the accumulated games, Origi and Minamino must follow the example shown to them.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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