Liverpool remain in the hunt for the Premier League title.
Liverpool’s push for the Premier League title continued on Sunday, beating Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage after a minor scare.
Sadio Mane’s opener had Liverpool on their way, but a Ryan Babel goal had pulled the Cottagers level, threatening to leave Liverpool with just a point before James Milner scored from the spot.
The Reds are still moving forward, but fans may have been left a little confused by Xherdan Shaqiri’s absence – as well as Divock Origi’s resurgence.
Shaqiri looked to be an important player towards the end of 2018, notching six goals and two assists in his final 13 games of the year.
Yet in 2019, the Swiss international has started just two Premier League games, and has only played twice since the end of January, totalling 39 minutes.
Shaqiri was left on the bench against Fulham and has since pulled out of the Switzerland squad through injury, and it’s fair to say fans will be surprised at how the playmaker has drifted from importance this year.
Conversely, Origi is back in favour. Since the end of January, the Belgian has played eight times for Liverpool, scoring against Watford, whilst he was seen as the attacker to change the game against Fulham having come on for Roberto Firmino after 72 minutes.
Few would have expected the 23-year-old to rebuild his Liverpool career having been linked with an exit in the last two transfer windows, and now he’s seemingly more important than Shaqiri.
The pair are heading in opposite directions under Klopp, and it’s fair to say that him using Origi over Shaqiri of late will have left many at Anfield somewhat surprised.
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