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It shouldn’t be anything new for Liverpool fans at this point.
The Reds make a signing, Jurgen Klopp asks for patience and, about six months later, the Liverpool manager is right.
Liverpool never expect a new recruit too soon as Klopp gives them time not only to settle into a new system, but also to adjust to a new country and culture.
Even when fans are itching to see a new face in action, the Reds manager never rushes.
Fabinho and Andy Robertson are two of the most prominent examples of Liverpool’s patient approach, but Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Roberto Firmino also needed time before showing their best form at Anfield.
And it would be fair to say that Takumi Minamino is following a similar path.
The Japanese international arrived at Anfield in January and, having impressed Red Bull Salzburg in two Champions League games against the Reds, expectations were high.
In fact, fans were delighted with the arrival of a man who had launched into their conscience with two exciting performances.
And they were not the only ones.
It turned out that senior Liverpool players had urged Klopp to move for a man who had baffled them with clever moves and hard passes in the weeks leading up to a move.
But with Michael Edwards at the helm of Liverpool’s recruiting team, the Reds boss was one step ahead and once Liverpool discovered the existence of a £ 7.25 million release clause in Minamino’s contract, they moved quickly to beat the competition from players like Manchester United to get your man.
However, cutting off the excitement of Liverpool’s first senior signing in 18 months was an important message from Klopp.
“It is important that he settle down and that we have signed the player who was in Salzburg, so for now he has to be who he is,” he said.
“I told him we signed Minamino from Salzburg, the guy who played like crazy against us, so be it and we’ll see how he develops.
“But certainly in this part of the season we will use it now and not 15 weeks from now.
“Will the article be finished in March? I don’t know. We will start learning about each other from now on, we will work on your natural abilities and give you all the time you need.
“Right now we have a really good soccer team and we have some of the best offensive players in the world.
“We did not bring him to accept that he is fifth, sixth, but he can play a lot of positions, which means options. It would be good if everyone gave him a little time.”
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Chance would be a good thing.
Within a month, there were concerns in some quarters about the 25-year-old’s performance and suitability for English football.
The starts against Everton and Chelsea, as well as a long outing as an early replacement for Sadio Mane at Wolves, had seen Minamino struggle to make a big impact.
But those first few weeks will not have worried his manager.
Consider what the Reds coach had to say about Fabinho after only a month of the 2018/19 season had passed.
“Three or five weeks sounds like a long time in football, but to improve something you can give half a year, to really take the next step,” Klopp said. “That’s.”
What reason was he. Within six months, Fabinho was a fixture in Liverpool’s midfield. Like Robertson a year earlier, the Brazilian overcame some initial problems in his early performances to familiarize himself with Liverpool’s style.
Nine months after Minamino’s arrival and he’s starting to recover.
Encouraging preseason performances have resulted in Liverpool’s first goal against Arsenal at the Community Shield and another in a 7-2 win at Blackpool.
And Klopp’s experimentation with a new lineup could speak to just how much Minamino is impressing in training.
Anfield insiders have been enthusiastic about Minamino’s application at Melwood and his English has developed significantly due to the hard work he put in during the lockdown.
Being trapped in isolation for the first few months in a foreign country can’t be easy for anyone, but Minamino used that time to help spice up his Liverpool career.
And like Xherdan Shaqiri before him, a tactical change could give Minamino the one thing he lacked since he arrived at Anfield: a defined position.
Klopp isn’t in the habit of changing his usual 4-3-3 approach, but the preseason is an opportunity to try something new, and it seems Minamino could be instrumental in this new thinking.
Operating behind Roberto Firmino, the Japanese international was an integral part of Liverpool’s performance in the second half and may feel more at ease in advanced midfield after struggling to make a mark both in the open positions and as an alternative to Firmino in the attack, although there have been signs of greater confidence playing on the left.
Minamino will rightly push to start when Leeds travel to Anfield on opening day.
Don’t bet against him having an impact on that game, and don’t be surprised if he’s a point man next season.
After all, Liverpool have seen it all before.
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