Liverpool’s supporters have flooded to social media this evening, to highlight their frustrations with one member of the club’s frontline.
Arsenal stand tall
Jurgen Klopp’s men marked their return to action a short time ago.
After cruising into the 4th-round of the FA Cup at the expense of minnows Shrewsbury at the weekend, the Reds tonight welcomed Arsenal to Anfield, hoping to take a significant step towards the finale of the Carabao Cup, in the rescheduled first-leg of their tie with the Gunners.
And, when Granit Xhaka was given his marching orders inside 25 minutes for a last-man challenge on Diogo Jota, Liverpool looked well on their way to precisely that:
RED CARD! ?
Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka is sent off after a reckless last man challenge on Liverpool’s Diogo Jota pic.twitter.com/n71xpYPzRW
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 13, 2022
Unfortunately for Klopp and co., however, when all was said and done, they simply couldn’t manage to produce the one moment of quality required to secure a first-leg advantage.
A stout Arsenal backline, led by the near faultless Ben White, ultimately stood tall, to keep themselves firmly in the tie ahead of next week’s return leg in north London.
‘Not good enough’
Whilst the Gunners will no doubt return to base in the capital delighted with a superb result on Thursday evening, though, back on Merseyside, the inquest will now get underway.
Though they were unable to call on the talents of star attackers Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane versus Arsenal, the near full-strength XI called upon by Jurgen Klopp should nevertheless have simply had too much for a depleted Arsenal outfit.
In turn, on the back of the action coming to a close on Thursday night, it should not come as all that much of a surprise to hear of the Liverpool faithful being up in arms.
The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, James Milner and Diogo Jota have all been singled out for deserved criticism, owing to hugely underwhelming individual displays.
None, however, has been more widely targetted than the seldom-utilised Takumi Minamino.
This comes after the Japanese international, with the goal at his mercy, fluffed a glorious chance to bag an all -important Liverpool winner amid the closing exchanges at Anfield:
“That sums up Liverpool’s night!”
Takumi Minamino is faced with an open goal and but can only fire the ball into the back of The Kop! pic.twitter.com/VlbppxbYdM
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 13, 2022
Minamino, as a result, has since been widely singled out as simply ‘not good enough’, with just some of the highlights from across social media showcased below:
Minamino is not fucking good enough. It’s so obvious. #lfc
— LFC247 (@Mitch19872) January 13, 2022
Minamino. Not good enough.
— MarkJ (@TheRedDrJ) January 13, 2022
That’s a shocker from Minamino. He’s not good enough #LFC
— Marcus Boocock (@Bookey81) January 13, 2022
Minamino is not good enough! Henderson was not needed in this game once Xhaka was sent off. I blame this one fully on Klopp.
— Emmanuel A. Mensah (@Yawadumensah) January 13, 2022
Minamino cut our losses not good enough as a squad player
— Ceejay (@Ceej_ay92) January 13, 2022
You can’t miss them
You just can’t. Not good enough and why Minamino will never be more than a bit part player at Liverpool— Matt (@MattLFC1) January 13, 2022
Minamino is not good enough. Someone has to say it
— Johnny K (@JohnnyKerr70) January 13, 2022
Minamino is not good enough. Will never be.
— Tony Ducks Corallo ? (@PhixAlmighty) January 13, 2022
Minamino is not good enough to be a liverpool player #LIVARS
— SpearCity (@wwescouser) January 13, 2022
Arsenal starlet Gabriel Martinelli beats out competition to bag Premier League award
Liverpool scouting KV Oostende midfielder Kenny Rocha Santos