Takumi Minamino has come under fire from Liverpool fans after missing an open goal in Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal.
Liverpool were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Anfield, despite playing against 10 men for much of the match after Granit Xhaka was sent off after 24 minutes.
Jurgen Klopp’s side struggled to create clear-cut chances without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who are currently away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
However, they were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead late on when Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale fumbled a cross under pressure from Liverpool’s Virgil van Djik.
The ball rebounded favourably to Minamino eight yards out but the Japan international could only slice his shot over the bar and into The Kop, with an open goal gaping.
Liverpool fans took to social media after the match to register their frustration.
“By the way that minamino miss is one of the worst I’ve ever seen,” wrote Twitter user Kevin Hammond.
SamuelLFC added: “Can’t believe I hyped up Minamino just for him to miss an open goal in the last minute.
“That was his biggest moment of his career to become ‘Origi’ clutch and he skies it. Ffs.”
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also laid into Minamino after full-time and said the miss summed up the forward's time at Anfield since joining from Red Bull Salzburg in 2020.
"If he shows some composure and just waits for the ball, he sidefoots it in,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“But, in a nutshell, that summed up Liverpool tonight and also summed up Minamino’s Liverpool career.
"It just hasn’t happened for him at all. He’s never really done a lot in a Liverpool shirt, and that sums it up."
Liverpool return to action against Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday before facing Arsenal in the return leg at the Emirates on Thursday.
Featured Image Credit: Sky SportsTopics: Arsenal, Liverpool, Carabao Cup, Football
Rory O'Callaghan