Chris Sutton has stated that Liverpool striker Divock Origi could play for Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa but ‘not Arsenal’, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
The former Aston Villa forward added that ‘it’s all about playing’ for the Liverpool back-up option, as he seemingly suggested that he wouldn’t get regular minutes at places like Arsenal.
On paper, and on current form, Villa could argue that they have better striker options than those in North London.
Mikel Arteta has Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah to pick from up top.
Whilst Gerrard has Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings as his goalscorers, and it’s quite clear that Watkins stands above them all.
Aubameyang has a better record on paper, but he keeps getting dropped despite being captain, which just sums up what has happened to him since signing a new contract.
Whilst Lacazette can’t even earn regular game time at the Emirates, nor can Nketiah, who will probably be out of the door by the summer.
Nonetheless, with a lot of talk surrounding Origi’s role at Liverpool, where he earns more minutes from the bench than he does from the starting XI, Sutton shared what type of club he would suit to earn those ‘regular’ minutes.
“It’s all about playing,” said Sutton. “I am not saying Origi can go to Chelsea. I am not saying he can go to an Arsenal.
“But maybe an Aston Villa or a Norwich City where he would play regularly. I am not comparing Villa and Norwich, by the way. Villa are well ahead of Norwich in the table.
“But a team like that where he is playing week in and week out. That’s what you want to do is play regular football.”
Even though someone like Origi isn’t a regular starter at Anfield, and never will be, he still has earned himself legendary status at the club.
For the little time he has had on the pitch, he has made enormous contributions and produced moments that fans will remember for lifetimes.
From that goal in the Champions League final to pouncing on a mistake from Jordan Pickford to win the Merseyside derby.
Origi probably won’t be remembered or thought highly in the manner Mo Salah will be once he leaves Merseyside, but the key thing about it all is that he will be remembered.
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