26-year-old Liverpool player can match Rush and Dalglish’s record if he scores against Arsenal tonight

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Takumi Minamino is on a great run in the Carabao Cup. The Japanese forward has scored in every round of the competition this season.

He has scored four goals in those three games. That included the last-gasp equaliser at The Kop end in the last round against Leicester. The fact that he missed in the following shootout shouldn’t take away from how good he has been in the competition so far.

On the shoulders of giants

In fact, Minamino has been so brilliant that he is now on the cusp of equalling the record of two giants of the football club. Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish both scored in four consecutive League Cup games for The Reds. A goal tonight and Liverpool’s £7.5m signing from Salzburg can add his name to the list.

Dalglish was the first to achieve the feat in 1980, followed by Rush two years later. Steve McMahon also managed it in 1986 and Vladimir Smicer was the last to do it in 2001.

For Minamino to add his name to such an illustrious list would be a big moment for him personally. He has had to be very patient for game time since arriving two years ago this month. The Carabao Cup has given him a chance to show his quality as he remains fifth or sixth choice in The Premier League.

The Carabao king

Despite his lack of minutes Jurgen Klopp is always full of praise for for the forward. After the game against Shrewsbury on Sunday the manager acknowledged the role his number 18 will play in the absence of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

“It’s good. I liked Taki a lot when he came on. He’s actually in a really good shape but, of course, the injury interrupted it slightly,” Klopp said.

“But now he’s back, it’s good and we need him desperately.”

Not even Rush or Dalglish manged to score in five League Cup games in a row. If Minamino were to score in both legs against Arsenal, he would be out on his own as Liverpool’s Carabao king.