Joe Gomez believes Takumi Minamino is an ‘unbelievable addition’ to the Liverpool squad and claims the winger has already adapted well to Jurgen Klopp’s ‘gegenpressing’ style of play.
Minamino impressed on two occasions as Salzburg came up against Liverpool in the Champions League group stage earlier this season and the Reds made a move to sign the 25-year-old ahead of the January transfer window.
The Japan international was officially unveiled as a Liverpool player on January 1 after the Premier League giants triggered a £7.25million release clause in his contract at Salzburg.
Last weekend, Minamino came on for his fourth appearance as Liverpool beat Southampton 4-0 at Anfield and it appears he’s already impressed team-mates in his first few weeks at the club.
Gomez has explained how Minamino’s positive energy in the dressing room and ‘tenacity’ on the pitch make him perfect for Liverpool’s pressing game.
‘He’s a happy, positive guy. He’s got a nice aura to him. To be fair, everyone was aware of him from when we played him, the effect he had,’ the Liverpool and England defender told Sky Sports’ Soccer AM.
‘When he came to Anfield, how well he done and how well he took the game.
‘His desire to press and adapt to our style of play. The gaffer wants us to play a certain way and he has that tenacity about him, to want to get about and put pressure on.
‘An unbelievable addition.’
Minamino says he’s learning every single day in the best possible environment for his development, among some of the world’s best players.
‘You know that you are part of the team, but because my English is not good enough yet their help has been really important,’ he told Liverpool’s official website earlier this week.
‘They are still helping me on some occasions and during the first days they taught me the team rules, things like what time the meetings started and how the team functions on a daily basis.
‘At the moment I speak a lot with the players who can speak German.
‘By playing in the best environment I learn a lot every day and I can improve myself. I am very happy about being here.
‘Even in the training sessions the level of focus and intensity is really high and the players’ motivation is also very high.’
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