Divock Origi is proving himself as Klopp’s next best option
By Josh Ricker
The last year for Divock Origi sounds like something that has come out of a story book. The Belgian scored so many important goals for the Reds last season, but believe it or not, he is slowly proving he is one of the most lethal attackers in Liverpool and England.
Divock Origi has turned himself into a cult hero at Liverpool, due to his heroic goals in the last campaign. Scoring against the club’s biggest rival, Everton, in the sixth minute of extra time, plus bagging two against Barcelona in the most important night Anfield has ever hosted. Did I forget to mention he also scored in the Champions League Final versus Tottenham?
His eye for goal has been seemingly unstoppable, and he takes those chances so, so well. The only three shots he had in the Champions League were all converted into goals. However, contrary to his popularity, last year whenever his name popped up on the team sheet there were still groans from fans.
Despite this, Origi has persevered and now has turned himself into a player people are excited to see starting or coming on as a substitute because we know he can make something happen. The 24 year-old has also signed a contract extension at the club this summer that should keep him at Anfield for the foreseeable future.
While Sadio Mane gives his legs a rest from last year and AFCON this summer, Jurgen Klopp had to look at someone on the bench to fill his shoes. “Big Div” as Liverpudlians like to call him, was the obvious answer to Klopp’s concerns. This decision turned out to be the right one as well because in the first game of the Premier League season against Norwich, Div had his hands all over the match.
The first goal was all due to him, taking a hit from the left wing which then deflected off Grant Hanley into the net. While he did not get credit for the goal, it was his effort and intuition to hit the ball into an awkward space for Hanley to deal with it. After two more goals from Liverpool, the former Lille player found himself in the box again and headed home a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross.
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Unfortanutely, once Sadio Mane comes back Divock Origi will move back to the bench. Nonetheless, he has proved himself as a player that makes a serious impact, and it seems as though Liverpool finally have a reliable cover to any one of their front three attackers. Do not get it twisted, if Origi played for a club outside the top six, he would be scoring 15+ goals a season.