Klopp "desperately" needs Minamino as Liverpool manage with depleted front line

Just 12 months after being allowed to leave Liverpool on loan, Takumi Minamino is preparing for what could be his biggest ever month for the Reds.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has stressed the importance of the Japan international, who spent the second half of last season with Southampton after starting just seven times for his parent club.

The 26-year-old has recently spent time on the sidelines with a muscle injury, but returned in the FA Cup third round win against Shrewsbury Town.

With Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane away at the Africa Cup of Nations, and Divock Origi remaining on the sidelines with a knee problem which has kept him out of action for more than a month, Klopp spoke of how he "desperately" needs Minamino in January.

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"Taki trained only twice after his injury, the game was part of his rehab," Klopp said after the former Red Bull Salzburg forward replaced youngster Max Woltman at the break.

Daniel Udoh gave underdogs Shrewsbury the lead, before Kaide Gordon and a Fabinho penalty put Liverpool ahead at the break.

Minamino's fellow substitute Roberto Firmino extended the lead, with Fabinho's second sealing victory, and after the game Klopp stressed the importance of his returning attacker.

"He is back and is very, very important for us, especially now we have a lot of games coming up and we all know two of our main guys up front are not here," Klopp said of Minamino

"I liked Taki a lot when he came on, he was actually in really good shape.

"But of course the injury interrupted him slightly, that's how it is. Now he is back it's good and we need him desperately."

Liverpool's next game comes in the Carabao Cup against Arsenal, with the second leg of the semi-final to follow after a Premier League match against Brentford on Sunday.

Klopp's team will then travel to Crystal Palace, against whom Minamino scored his only Premier League goal for the Reds last season, on January 23.

After that comes the FA Cup fourth round meeting with Cardiff City on the weekend of February 5, with Salah and Mane due to be available again not long after.

The Africa Cup of Nations final will be held on February 6, so the return of the attacking pair - as well as Guinea midfielder Naby Keita - will depend on their respective countries' progress in the tournament.

Minamino has five goals in 14 appearances for Liverpool this season, though only one of those - a late contribution in a 4-0 victory over Arsenal - came in the league.

The Japan forward netted twice in the Carabao Cup third round victory over Norwich City and once in the fourth round against Preston North End, before delivering a late equaliser to set up the penalty shoot-out victory over Leicester City in the fifth round in December.

All of his six Premier League appearances in the first half of the season came from the bench, but Klopp's comments suggest that will change very soon.