Jurgen Klopp has been accused of ‘faking’ his admiration for Liverpool hitman Divock Origi.
The Belgian international was the hero for Liverpool on Saturday as Klopp’s side left it late to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
Origi climbed off the bench to net a last-minute winner for Liverpool and the German sung his praises in a big way after the game.
In fact, the manager even claimed that the 26-year-old was a ‘legend‘ of the Anfield club.
However, Klopp has only started the former Lille attacker twice in the Premier League since the start of last season.
And Belgium-based pundit Alex Teklak has suggested that the Liverpool manager is potentially being a little disingenuous with his effusive comments about the player.
He told DH: “Klopp manages to entertain this ‘I need you’ notion [with Origi]. He makes him his mascot, a symbol, his favourite. Is he exaggerating? Yes, it’s fake, it’s really a big fake, because you feel he isn’t his priority.”
Priority
Well, there’s no doubt that Origi is nowhere near becoming one of Liverpool’s ‘priority’ players under Klopp.
Because let’s face it, Origi won’t be competing with Roberto Firmino or Diogo Jota to start games for Liverpool on a regular basis anytime soon.
But what Teklak omitted to mention was the simple fact that the Reds boss touched on this very subject, in the same interview.
He said: “It’s difficult to get 500 minutes a week in this team because of the players we have. But Divock Origi is an incredible football player.”
And that’s a fine summary by Klopp, it has to be said.
There is nothing ‘fake’ about Klopp’s love for Origi. The Liverpool boss simply has much better players.
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