Jurgen Klopp has insisted that Takumi Minamino is part of his plans at Liverpool despite the midfielder’s lack of game time this season.
Minamino, who signed for the Reds from Red Bull Salzburg in January, has only spent 58 minutes on the pitch so far this term and has not started for the Premier League champions since last season.
But Klopp suggested that the 25-year-old’s lack of involvement has been down to impressive performances from his team-mates, rather than the Japan international struggling for form.
“There is no dip in form,” Klopp told Liverpool’s official club website. “Taki is training well. [On Monday] he was exceptional, for example.
“It’s just a strong team, and offensively – thank God – we didn’t have the same problems as the other positions,” the German added, referencing Liverpool’s injury issues in defence, where Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are long-term absentees and Trent Alexander-Arnold is out until the second week of December.
“It’s hard to get in this team – that’s how it is. But no dip in form, just a challenge.
“Bobby [Firmino] plays like 12 instruments in our orchestra, he’s very important for our rhythm.
“We can play well without him as well, [and] Taki is a sensational boy and a great player, so he will face that challenge.
“His time will come, no doubt.”
Liverpool welcome Atalanta to Anfield on Wednesday evening, when a win would guarantee Klopp’s players a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
