Jurgen Klopp dismisses Takumi Minamino 'anger' as Liverpool boss hails complete performance

Jurgen Klopp dismissed the idea that Takumi Minamino's match-winning performance against Norwich City was fuelled by the anger of missing out on the Carabao Cup final squad.

The Japan international responded to being omitted for Sunday's penalty shootout win over Chelsea at Wembley by scoring both goals in the 2-1 victory over the Canaries in the FA Cup at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Klopp admitted it was likely a disappointing afternoon for Minamino at the weekend when he was left out for the showpiece at Wembley, but the Reds boss denied the versatile forward reacted negatively to the situation.

And Klopp was full of praise for what he called a "complete performance" from the 27-year-old as he helped them book a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

"Taki was very disappointed, I can imagine, but I never spoke to him about it," Klopp said.

"These are the decisions I have to make for this lineup and actually my decision is very positive because I decide for the player but it means for others it is not so cool.

"That is how it is. I don't think that is the reason why Taki played so well tonight, he is not the person for this type of anger or whatever.

"But it is just the situation he was in and the lineup for Sunday was kind of the right one because we won the game in the end and that is how it is.

"My decisions are tested by the results that we get and the players have to keep working, that is how it is.

"For me being a player at Liverpool FC is the best place you can be but it means you have to deal with situations you might not have to deal with somewhere else.

"Because you don't play all the time but then you don't have a chance to play a final all the time [somewhere else] or there are no chances to win silverware,