Jurgen Klopp has hinted Takumi Minamino will be best suited to a central role during the early period of his Liverpool career.
The Japan international arrived earlier this month from Red Bull Salzburg after Liverpool activated his £7.25million release clause.
Minamino had already impressed the Anfield faithful earlier this season when he starred for the Austrian side in the Champions League, but made an eye-catching Liverpool debut in last weekend’s FA Cup third round win over Everton.
The 24-year-old started as the focal point of the Liverpool attacked before he was substituted with 20 minutes remaining.
Klopp admits he is a fan of his new signing’s versatility but believes Minamino’s adaptation process will be aided by consistently playing in the position he is most familiar with.
This is what Liverpool fans can expect from new signing Takumi Minamino ? pic.twitter.com/42F0KTnTm8
— Metro Sport (@Metro_Sport) December 19, 2019
‘He played there (against Everton) because we thought that it’s most natural to him in the first place, especially defending wise against the ball,’ said Klopp ahead of Saturday’s game against Tottenham.
‘The year before, not this season the year before this season, when my former player was manager at Salzburg I watched a couple of games where they played a diamond a lot and he was the No.10 very often.
‘He can play as a second striker, for Japan he plays as a No.9, he can play the wing.
‘But from a defending point of view the most natural position for him [was central]. I don’t want to give him a playbook, read it, and now you know what you have to do.
‘But it’s not his only position, in a 4-4-2 he can play both wings, second striker, for Japan the only striker, a lot he has to offer.’
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