Jurgen Klopp says he used Takumi Minamino as a striker against Everton because it was ‘most natural to him’.
The Japanese star was handed his Liverpool debut last weekend, as the Reds beat their Merseyside rivals 1-0 in the FA Cup third round.
It was a productive first appearance for Minamino, even though he missed one great headed opportunity in the first half.
Known for his versatility as a player, supporters weren’t sure how the 24-year-old would be used at Anfield, with so many top players filling midfield and attacking positions.
Given Klopp’s preference for switching his formations, he could have been used in a 4-3-3 system, either deeper or in any of the front-three roles, or a 4-2-3-1, potentially thriving as a No.10.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Klopp revealed why he played Minamino in Roberto Firmino’s No.9 role:
He played there because we thought it was the most natural to him in the first place, especially defending-wise against the ball it was most natural to him.
He played the position the year before, not this season but the season before, when my former player was manager at Salzburg.
I watched a couple of games and they played a lot in a diamond and he was the No.10 very often. He can play second striker, all that stuff, for Japan he plays as No.9, he can play on the wing.
But we thought from a defending point of view it’s the most natural position for him that he knows because I don’t want to give him kind of a playbook: read it and now you know what you have to do.
So he could defend naturally actually, but it’s not the only position he can play, no, no no. He played in a 4-4-2, both wings, second striker, for Japan the only striker – [there is] a lot he has to offer and I loved the game.
In a completely new team, not only because he was not together with Sadio and these guys who you give the ball and they do something completely by themselves, it was completely teamwork to find together during the game. It was an exceptional performance.
Read Liverpool Verdict
I thought Minamino immediately caught the eye in a Reds shirt, even though his performance wasn’t necessarily earth-shattering.
He looked a reincarnation of the world-class Firmino leading the line, full of deft touches, clever movement and hard work.
I believe his versatility will be a great asset for Klopp, allowing him to shine in midfield, out wide or leading the line.
When opposition legs are tiring, we feel as if he has the ability to wreak havoc in the final third, either as a fourth attacker or a replacement for Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane or Firmino.
