Klopp admits Liverpool star might need more game-time

Jurgen Klopp admits he might have made a mistake by leaving Takumi Minamino out of the Liverpool lineup in recent weeks.

Jurgen Klopp has hinted Minamino should have seen more minutes on the pitch over recent weeks.

The 25-year-old is expected to return to Klopp’s starting XI for the FA Cup clash with Aston Villa on Friday night. The Reds seek revenge for the famous 7-2 thrashing they suffered at the hands of Villa earlier in the season.

Minamino has been hit and miss since joining the Reds 12 months ago, scoring four goals in 29 appearances so far.

The Japan international starred in his last appearance which came in the 7-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace weeks ago.

Minamino had the best game of his Liverpool career at Palace, but hasn’t been seen since.

A look at maybe why, and what he offers, for the @LivEchoLFC https://t.co/wlvlU7OKBg
— Andrew Beasley 💙 (@BassTunedToRed) January 7, 2021

Since then, Liverpool have drawn with West Brom and Newcastle, before losing to Southampton last weekend.

Klopp has now admitted he might have made a mistake by omitting Minamino out of the Liverpool XI of late.

The Reds boss said while giving his verdict of the player’s one year at the club: “You come in, a new club and everybody thinks that you will score 20, 30, 40 goals and stuff like this.”

“He is in a good shape – a really good shape – he developed, he got used to it.”

“He was a good player when we signed him, obviously, but he got used to the intensity, the league, training, all this stuff.”

“He made big steps. I know the last game he played was Crystal Palace and since then we didn’t win another [game], so we should think about involving him, obviously.”