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Liverpool star Takumi Minamino has been compared to Kai Havertz after his brilliant performance against Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup.
The Reds did light work on their third-round opponents after a 7-2 win that saw goals from Minamino, Xherdan Shaqiri, Curtis Jones, Marko Grujic and Divock Origi.
He has created a delicious draw with Arsenal in the next round.
And it was an opportunity for Liverpool’s fringe players to claim a more advanced role in the team.
One of those who has surely impressed has been Minamino, whose goals were just one facet of his game.
The Japanese international was full of runs, constantly putting pressure on defenders and causing discomfort.
And Ralf Rangnick, who has been football director of Minamino’s former club RB Salzburg, praised the striker, even comparing him to Chelsea’s new signing Havertz.
“He is one of five players on the Liverpool team who, in recent years, played for one of my clubs,” he told Sky Sports’ The Football Show.
“This is definitely not a coincidence, because Jurgen and his style of football is similar to ours and mine.
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Liverpool got off to a shaky start to their title defense by overcoming a seven-goal thriller against Leeds.
In terms of transfers, the Reds completed the signing of Thiago Alcantara and the Wolves’ Diogo Jota also arrived, in a deal worth £ 45 million.
Young Ki-Jana Hoever is set to head to Wolves in a £ 10 million deal, while Gini Wijnaldum remains linked with Barcelona. There is much to follow.
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“Together with Sadio Mane (Salzburg), Naby Keita (Salzburg and RB Leipzig), Roberto Firmino (Hoffenheim) and Joel Matip (Schalke), Minamino is the fifth player for one of my old clubs.
“Minamino, I think if all the players are in top form for the biggest games in the Champions League and the Premier League, they probably won’t be in the starting eleven.
“But you can always bring him in as a backup. He is, like Dele Alli and Kai Havertz, an all-rounder in offensive positions.
(Image: Getty)
“He can play almost any offensive position in a team like Liverpool.
“But if all the players are in top form, with all due respect to Minamino, I don’t see him in the starting lineup.
“But he is definitely a very valuable player for Liverpool and in the case of playing against inferior teams in the Premier League or in the cups, he can always be in the starting eleven.
“He’s a fantastic kid, great mentality, good pace and he can score goals.
“So I think this transfer makes absolutely sense.”
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