Seemingly, the German wasn't interested in taking any risks with a player whose last game had been against Liverpool on December 10. Before his exit, with Firmino absent, Minamino was asked to replace the Brazilian as the central focal point of the Liverpool atttack. His heat-map for Salzburg this season shows how, off the front, he drifts, with particular preference for the inside right position. But gradually Minamino, Origi and Elliott became more involved, lots of quick little touches between the three, and Jones advancing from midfield, but not much to really get excited about. In the 34th minute came the chance he would have been dreaming about last night when, out on the left, Origi stepped back onto his right foot and crossed into the penalty box.

Source: Daily Mirror January 05, 2020 19:07 UTC