Diogo Jota’s injury layoff, which is set to sideline the new Liverpool FC star’s involvement for the next couple of months, could mean Takumi Minamino is in line to grab more game-time for Jurgen Klopp’s side, according to ex-Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves.
Minamino scored his first top-flight goal in the Liverpool FC shirt this past weekend at Selhurst Park as Klopp’s men ran out 7-0 victors in emphatic fashion.
The Japan international has fallen down the pecking order in the first-team ranks at Anfield following Jota’s move from Wolves this summer and his subsequent run of brilliant form in front of goal, but Owen Hargreaves reckons the recent injury sustained by the Portuguese attacker could mean much more minutes on the pitch for Minamino.
“When you play in this Liverpool team, you’ve got to get numbers,” Hargreaves said to the Liverpool Echo.
“To get numbers, you have to be the box. He is a really good player, presses well, takes the ball on the half-turn.”
“He’s not better than the front three of the midfield three, he’s a squad player.”
“If he plays in 20 games a season, he can be perfect.”
Klopp has chosen to draft Minamino in the midfield spot as well in recent weeks, as injuries to James Milner and Naby Keita opened up a spot in the XI to fill in for the ex-RB Salzburg man.
With Jota’s return to Anfield not certain until the opening week of February, Minamino is in contention to be awarded a few more starts in the Premier League, besides the FA Cup which commences next month.
