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Anfield knew it. Liverpool supporters worldwide and online knew it. The club's sporting director, Michael Edwards, knew it. So did Jurgen Klopp. It has emerged that even his players knew it, less than 24 hours after the event. Takumi Minamino was a Liverpool player.

Of course, the Japanese international isn't a Liverpool player yet , but it would appear to be a matter of time. In developments which moved as quick as Minamino does on a weekly basis in Austria, Liverpool were interested, to on the verge, to essentially agreeing a deal for the 24-year-old.

The story, as told by Caoimhe O'Neill of the Liverpool Echo, is that some of those who played against Minamino in the 2-0 win in Salzburg told their manager to sign him, such was his performance, not only in the group decider, but the September win on Merseyside. Klopp smiled, knowing that in fact, Liverpool had been negotiating with RB Salzburg over his signature for weeks.

This is because Minamino can simply be described as one thing, clearly categorised as other footballers of his kind are: a Liverpool player. Sadio Mané? He's a Liverpool player. Roberto Firmino? A Liverpool player. Mohamed Salah? You guessed it. Liverpool player. They are labelled as such because of the identity which has been created by the club – the putty presented by Edwards and his recruitment team, the mould from Klopp and his coaching staff – which is evident at all levels. Relentless, quick, technical, intelligent, creative, ingenious. All adjectives which have resided at Anfield in recent years, all attributes possessed by those in red.

In the two games fans saw, in the clashes the players experienced, they saw a quick, technical, intelligent, creative Minimino. He was also relentless, possessing a heat map which looked like a bonfire ablaze. They say a player who was every inch one who could play for Liverpool. It was obvious to everybody.

This is significant. Liverpool signed Firmino in the same summer as Christian Benteke. When Mané came a year later, he did so to a club still figuring out how to become a Champions League regular once more; Salah would join a year later with the Reds transitioning into that very thing. There was a clear reason all three came, but it was not to fit an already defined style.

The same is true of defensive players. Andy Robertson came into a side whose full backs were not a major source of creativity. Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker arrived within six months of each other, both attempting to define a defence without real definition. Even Fabinho was signed, and immediately appeared to be a player Liverpool simply did have at that time.

Minamino will become the first senior player the Reds have signed in 18 months. A lot has happened in that time, primarily revolving around Liverpool becoming one of the best clubs in Europe, both on and off the field. It has become a juggernaut, ever-accelerating, which posted a record runner-up points tally and won their sixth European Cup in Madrid. This has been achieved with an identifiable brand of football, once which has helping define the game's current era. Much like how Pep Guardiola's sides can be signposted by ball retention and tactical intricacies, Klopp's Liverpool now possesses its own distinct way of playing, one which is present and conducted by every member of the squad.

That is why the signing of the Salzburg star is of real interest, and marks the next step of Liverpool's development under the German coach. He is not expected to be as good as the front three, or become a player capable of usurping any of them just yet. However, he is the first who arrives tailor-made for this new Liverpool, the one which has lost just one league game since the start of the 2018/19 campaign. Whereas before, players came to help shape this identity, now they arrive to conform to it.

If Liverpool were to want to give Fabinho more competition in the no.6 role, it is clear what sort of profile would be sought. Similarly, another centre-back, full-back, or no.8 would be easier to find now than before. In some ways, for as long as Liverpool's style is successful, for as long as there is no need for drastic evolution, their recruitment should be even more foolproof. The template of what works is already there.

Liverpool sign Takumi Minamino Liverpool have confirmed the signing of RB Salzburg star Takumi Minamino in a £7.25million ($9.5million) deal. Here is the latest on the Japanese international... Joel Rabinowitz takes a look at how the signing of Minamino is a no-brainer for Liverpool.

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It is what successful sides have done in the past. Think of FC Barcelona under Guardiola, and in subsequent years, with their possession-based play imperative, making the likes of Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, David Villa and Cesc Fabregas obvious signings. Then, there is the Jose Mourinho sides of old, such as Chelsea and Inter Milan. Nemanja Matic, Diego Costa, Diego Milito, Thiago Motta. These were Mourinho players, playing Mourinho's style, whether in the Premier League or Serie A.

This is the level Liverpool now find themselves at under Klopp. In some ways, though Minamino is nowhere near Liverpool's biggest signing, he is one of the most exciting. It shows Liverpool now have a fully-formed identity, one which makes it clear to everybody what sort of player would thrive in this system. This is no guarantee of success, but it is something some of the decade's most successful sides, the greatest-ever Barcelona team included, founded their own success upon.

Minamino will soon be a Liverpool player, and that will be important to sustain the club's challenge for trophies; the fact he is clearly a Liverpool player is perhaps even more so.