Jurgen Klopp in awe of forgotten Liverpool star’s performance against Norwich City

As frustrating as it sometimes is when the big clubs play second string sides in cup competitions, it does give forgotten stars a chance to showcase their talent. 

Until football expands to one day allow 22 players per side on a pitch, there will always be quality players missing out on starts and appearances.

However, with the footballing calendar so hectic and congested, most teams use the League Cup as an opportunity to rest their biggest stars and give some of the back-up players a chance.

This is often received with frustration, but if a player takes their opportunity and stars for the team under the evening lights, it can alter the manager’s perception of who their important players are.

And Takumi Minamino may have just done just that with his two instinctive finishes in Liverpool’s 3-0 away victory against Norwich City.

Minamino justified his start with two goals at Carrow Road.

Another forgotten man Divock Origi also found the net for The Reds, as Klopp’s side dominated the Canaries once more.

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders was also blown away by the former Southampton loanee’s performance, saying he really took his chance.

“Jurgen said, ‘Wow, the amount of times Taki comes one-v-one against the goalkeeper,” said Reds assistant Pep Lijnders prior to the Norwich game.

“I said, ‘Yeah, it shows you don’t need super, super speed to come one-v-one with the goalkeeper.’ He is a very natural, intelligent mover.

“That’s what we need; we needed it already in the last games. He has this good timing to move in behind, good combination play when the players are close to him.

“He only can become better. That’s what we like, that’s why we brought him in at that time – because we saw the potential, not the end product.”