Neil Mellor has told Sky Sports News (27/10/20 at 9:55 pm) that Liverpool duo Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi were ‘ineffective’ during their Champions League outing on Tuesday night.
Liverpool recorded a 2-0 win against Midtjylland, with Jurgen Klopp ringing the changes and bringing both Minamino and Origi into the starting fold.
Things didn’t start well for the hosts because Fabinho was forced off injured inside half an hour, but that didn’t stop Jota and substitute Mo Salah from sealing the points in the second half.
Mellor admitted that it was ‘frustrating’ for the six-time European Cup winners and he still thinks the likes of Origi and Minamino will get ‘more opportunities’ down the line despite producing such an unconvincing performance.
“He gave an opportunity to Minamino and Origi but they were ineffective,” Mellor told Sky Sports. “You have to give Midtjylland credit. Liverpool lacked sharpness and when you are not playing, it difficult. You are coming in and trying to be at it and perform well. They weren’t tonight.
“They lacked that sharpness, they lacked that bit of quality, they created very little and offered very little problems for the Midtjylland defence.
“There will be more opportunities because there are a lot more games to come, but it was frustrating for large periods for Liverpool.”
There should be some degree of sympathy towards Origi because he plays a very difficult role under Klopp.
Origi’s well aware that he’s not a starter which disrupts his rhythm, ability to get the best of out his talents and showcase some consistency.
But could it be argued that it’s worth losing those things for that late winner against Everton, that performance against Barcelona and that goal in the Champions League final because whilst the Belgian has lacked consistency, he has been very valuable to the cause.
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