Jurgen Klopp includes Takumi Minamino in Liverpool’s Champions League squad

Jurgen Klopp has added Takumi Minamino to Liverpool’s Champions League squad ahead of the upcoming last 16 tie against Atletico Madrid. The Japan international joined the runaway Premier League leaders in January following a £7.25million move from Red Bull Salzburg. Minamino has made four appearances in all competitions so far and is eligible to play a part in Liverpool’s defence of the trophy they won last June, despite having represented the Austrian Champions in the group stages earlier this season. The versatile forward has been eased in gently by Klopp so far but Minamino admitted he was unhappy with his own performance during his Premier League debut last month.

He said: ‘I feel the manager’s trust in me, so I really want to repay him. Personally, I’m not satisfied with my own performance [at Wolves], so I want to meet the expectations of the people who support me.

‘I was mentally ready to go and all I was thinking was how to fit into the team smoothly and get into the game. ‘I don’t feel any pressure. I’m not sure how much expectation has been put on me, but I have nothing to lose.

‘I can play on either side, but it was more about how to link up with the full-backs. If we can build a better understanding of each other, I’m sure it will get even better. Summer signing Sepp van den Berg, the teenage centre-half who starred in Tuesday’s FA Cup fourth round replay victory over Shrewsbury, drops out, meanwhile, to make room for Minamino. The first leg of the match against Atletico takes place at the Estadio Metropolitano on February 18 before hosting the La Liga side on March 11.