Takumi Minamino is intent in finding a positive to his lack of consistent game time this season.
This season, the Japanese international has played just 40 minutes of Premier League action, but has made two starts in the Champions League while in the Carabao Cup he has been prolific with four goals in three games.
Arguably his defining moment in his Liverpool career to date came in the 95th minute of the quarter final against Leicester with the Reds trailing 3-2, when he controlled a ball into the box by James Milner and finished with aplomb sending the Anfield crowd and many more at home into absolute raptures.
While he could not produce the ultimate icing on the cake by scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout, It was a evening that the attacking utility player will never forget.
The 26 year-old knows that cracking the starting lineup on a consistent basis is not easy, however he says Jurgen Klopp is the perfect manager to deal with in his situation as the Echo reported.
“I put in a lot of effort every day to play more and to get game time. I want to play more games and I want to prove to myself that I can do much better, so I use my frustration to turn everything positive.
“The manager always tries to keep the players' motivation higher. When I'm not playing in a match he always speaks to me and helps keep my motivation high.
“He is always very fair to every player so I quite admire his management skills."
January shapes as being a challenging month for the Reds with Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita heading off for the African Cup of Nations.
With the manager signalling that there will be no incoming players in the winter transfer window, it is down to fringe players in the squad like Minamino and Divock Origi to grab their opportunity when it arises.
However Minamino is prepared to be patient and is generally excited to be at the Reds as he enters the prime years of his career.
“As a footballer the ages between 26 and 30 are your best time, the time when you can play at your peak as a player.
“For myself at these ages I would like to play as many games as possible, but I am at the best club in the world and I can spend the best time of my career at this club.
“As I have said before, I would like to contribute to this club as much as possible. That is the best thing I can do."
The former RB Salzburg star is grateful for the opportunities he has been given by Klopp in the Carabao Cup but also the chance to adapt to the English game at Southampton where he made 10 appearances and scored two goals.
“As a player it was very important for me to play in games to get used to the speed and the power of Premier League football.
“Since I’ve come back to Liverpool I’ve felt that the experience of going to Southampton on loan has been really good, but I still want to give more and use that experience of playing at a high level.
“Everything is higher level in the Premier League. For example, the transition from attacking to defending is really quick in comparison and the speed of the game is much faster too.
“Everything is higher level here and you have to get used to it to be at that level.”
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