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Takumi Minamino
TMinamino2021
Personal information
Date of Birth

16 January 1995

Place of Birth

Izumisano, Japan

Height

1.74 m (5'9")

Position

Forward

Liverpool statistics
Squad no.

18 (2020-2022)

Years

2020-2022

Appearances

55

Goals

14

Assists

3

Takumi Minamino (born 16 January 1995) is a Japanese international footballer who played as a forward for Liverpool from 2020 to 2022. Despite making a slow start to his Liverpool career, Minamino proved vital in his final season, being the Reds’ top scorer in the two cup competitions, going on to win both the FA Cup and the EFL Cup,

Liverpool career[]

Minamino first caught the eye of Liverpool fans in the Champions League group stage, with the Japanese international putting in some very impressive performances, including a goal in a narrow Red Bull Salzburg defeat at Anfield.

After the group’s conclusion in December, it was reported that Liverpool were looking to agree a deal to sign Minamino from the Austrian side, having been scouted for a number of years.

On 19 December 2019, it was confirmed that Minamino would sign for Liverpool in the winter transfer window, with a £7,250,000 deal having been agreed with Salzburg. He signed a five-year deal, and was handed the number 18 shirt, recently vacated by Alberto Moreno.

Minamino officially signed for the club on 1 January 2020. He made his debut just four days later, starting and playing 70 minutes in the 1-0 victory over Everton in the FA Cup. He made his Premier League debut less than three weeks later, coming on as an early subsitute in a 2-1 win away to Wolves.

He remained as a squad player for the remainder of the season, with most appearances coming as a late substitute, and starts typically restricted to cup games. He did however, make enough appearances to earn himself a Premier League winners’ medal, becoming a champion within six months of his arrival to England.

After a promising pre-season, Minamino came off the bench in the Community Shield, with the Reds trailing 1-0 to Arsenal. Within 15 minutes of coming on, the Japanese international grabbed an equaliser, finishing calmly from close range to level the tie. He went on to convert his penalty in the shootout, but unfortunately came out on the losing side.

On 24 September 2020, Minamino made his first start of the season, playing the full 90 minutes in a 7-2 win at Lincoln. The forward put in a man-of-the-match performance, grabbing two goals, as well as assisting Divock Origi's effort. After this however he was awarded sporadic game time, starting just five more games, with a lot of his appearances coming in midfield, not his preferred position. On 19 December 2020, he scored his first Premier League goal, opening the scoring in a 7-0 win at Crystal Palace.

After this however, Minamino was given just two more appearances, before being sent out on loan to Southampton for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.

Following a mixed spell at Southampton, Minamino returned to Liverpool ahead of the 2021-22 season, and put in some impressive performances in pre-season, leading some to believe he would be offered more opportunities in the following season.

On 21 September 2021, Minamino was given his first appearance of the season, scoring twice in a 3-0 win away to Norwich in the EFL Cup. He followed this up by opening the scoring in the next round a month later, taking the Reds through to the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win at Preston. On 20 November 2021 he scored his first Premier League goal of the season, rounding off a 4-0 win over Arsenal.

On 22 December 2021, Minamino produced his biggest game in a red shirt, starting in the EFL Cup quarter-final against Leicester. With the Reds 3-1 down at half-time, Minamino assisted Diogo Jota’s goal, before equalising in the final minutes, taking the game to a penalty shootout. The Japanese international had the opportunity to win the shootout, taking the fifth penalty, but struck the crossbar. Fortunately, Liverpool went on to win the tie and progressed to the semi-final, and eventually the final.

Minamino was included on the bench for the EFL Cup final, but did not feature in the game. He did however pick up a winners medal as the Reds defeated Chelsea on penalties.

On 2 March 2022, Minamino scored twice in a 2-1 win over Norwich, taking Liverpool to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Liverpool eventually reached the final, but Minamino was not included in the matchday squad, but was included in the trophy celebrations as the Reds once again prevailed over Chelsea at Wembley.

On 17 May 2022, Minamino started away to Southampton, and scored an equaliser in an eventual 2-1 win, smashing in his 10th goal of the season. This proved to be his final appearance for the club.

On 28 June 2022, it was confirmed that Monaco had agreed a deal to sign Minamino for a fee of £13,500,000, potentially rising to £15,500,000, with the deal completed on 1 July.

Minamino made 55 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 14 goals and picking up 3 assists. He left the club having won the Premier League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup.

Honours[]

Liverpool[]

Stats[]

Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
2019-20 10 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 14 0
2020-21 9 1 1 0 2 2 4 0 1 1 17 4
2021-22 11 3 4 3 5 4 4 0 0 0 24 10
Total 30 4 8 3 7 6 9 0 1 1 55 14
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