Twitter reacts as Takumi Minamino replaces Sepp van der Berg in UCL squad

Takumi Minamino has been added to the Liverpool squad for the UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie against Atletico Madrid. (h/t Liverpool Echo)

The defending champions have made just the one notable change to their roster. Minamino will replace Dutch starlet Sepp van der Berg.

Minamino has already represented RB Salzburg in the competition this season. The change in rules, however, ensures that the Japanese star isn’t cup-tied for the Reds.

Liverpool have added the playmaker has been included in the ‘A’ list. Competition rules permit a club to add up to three such players.

Takumi Minamino showed courage in the match against Wolverhampton Wanderers

According to the rules, the 25-man squad should have at least two goalkeepers in the ‘A’ list while also including eight locally trained players.

A ‘locally trained player’ can either be a club-trained player on the books for three years between the ages of 15 and 21, or an association-trained player who was on the books at another club in the same association for a similar period.

Unfortunately, Van der Berg does not satisfy the criteria and it makes sense to replace him with Minamino.

The Dutch youngster is the fifth choice centre-back and has no realistic chance of featuring in the competition. Minamino, however, has a proven pedigree in the Champions League. He caused Liverpool plenty of problems in the group stages this season.

Liverpool will return to the Wanda Metropolitano – the site of our sixth European triumph – to take on Atletico Madrid in the first leg on 18 February. The return leg will be played at Anfield on 11 March.

Liverpool fans took to Twitter to voice their opinions on Minamino’s inclusion. We take a look at a few of them below.