Minamino tipped to play a ‘major part’ at Liverpool next season

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 17 May 2021 18:11 BST
• 2 min read

Kevin Phillips believes Takumi Minamino could play a “major part” in Liverpool’s 2021/22 season if he continues his impressive performances on loan at Southampton.

After starting just five games for the defending champions in the first half of the season, Liverpool allowed Minamino to go out on loan to Southampton for the remainder of the campaign in order for him to see some first-team football.

He joined the Saints in the January transfer window, and has already started as many games this season for them as he had for Liverpool.

The Japan international has also scored two goals in that time, including one against Chelsea in a 1-1 draw last week which highlighted his touch of class on the ball.

Minamino has been somewhat of a revelation at St Mary’s, and Phillips reckons if he continues on this trajectory then he should be welcomed back to Liverpool with open arms next season.

“He’s playing brilliantly, of course. But that happens, how many times have we seen that? Some clubs suit some players,” the former Sunderland striker told Football Insider.

“It is what it is, you know. Ultimately, it’s good for Liverpool that he’s going away and getting his game-time.

“He might well come back and play a major part at Liverpool next season. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Minamino at Liverpool

After bursting onto the European scene following a five-year spell with RB Salzburg, Minamino earned a move to Liverpool just over a year ago after the club triggered his £7.25 million release clause.

Prior to that, he had actually scored against Liverpool in the Champions League in a hugely impressive outing against Jurgen Klopp’s side in the group stage a couple of months previous.

He has struggled to break into the Liverpool starring XI due to the presence of star trio Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino, however.

In his year at Anfield, he has made 21 starts, scoring four goals and recording five assists across 2019/20 and 2020/21.