When Takumi Minamino decided to join the Champions League winners, these can’t have been the nights he dreamt of.
In the forefront of his mind would surely have been trips to Spain where Liverpool were crowned kings of Europe last year in Madrid.
Or Qatar perhaps where Liverpool recently lifted the Club World Cup.
Even Istanbul where Jurgen Klopp’s men won the Super Cup last August.
Instead the star found himself in Shropshire, the home of League One Shrewsbury.
But the Japanese attacker,25, may ultimately remember this embarrassing FA Cup fourth round draw as a vital game in his development as he adjusts to English football.
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The winger, a £7.5million signing from Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, unquestionably possess good technical qualities with a decent first touch with both feet.
But the newboy seemed noticeably lightweight in a central forward role as he was brushed off the ball and struggled to link play.
He wasn’t helped helped by a bumpy pitch at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.
But he had several openings to make an impression and open his Reds’ account in his first month in his second start in the FA Cup for his new club.
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Minamino, who has 11 goals in 22 games for his country, was given two early half chances in the box but both quickly evaporated.
He kept going and showed good movement and was always looking to make himself available. He sometimes even dropped into his own half to get on the ball.
But he made little impact in the first 20 minutes and let his frustrations get the better of him when he brought down Donald Love moments later.
(Image: REUTERS)
Minamino’s lack of physical presence made it hard for him against the dogged opposition.
His shortcomings were underlined when he tried to turn midfielder Sean Goss, who easily shrugged him off.
He had a good chance in the 39 minute from 16 yards out but failed to hit the target as he shot over.
It was a far cry from his clinical form with Salzburg , for whom he scored nine goals and provided 11 assists in 22 appearances this season.
Minamino even managed to score at Anfield for his old club in a 4-3 loss in the Champions League in October.
But on this evidence he will have a while to wait to break his duck for Liverpool having being replaced five minutes from time by Klopp after switching him out wide failed to pay off.
