Former Wigan boss Paul Cook has told the Football Show on Sky Sports (28/10/20 at 10:10 am) that Divock Origi has ‘never really stepped up to the plate’ from a performance aspect during his time at Liverpool.
Cook, who is also a boyhood Liverpool fan, acknowledged that trying to match Jurgen Klopp’s forward line is ‘really difficult’, and whilst Origi has struggled to do that, he has still scored ‘important’ goals for the club.
From the 25-year-old netting a late winner against Everton to scoring in the Champions League final, it seems as though previous struggles have been worth it for those moments alone if you are the Belgian.
Nonetheless, given the sheer quality of Liverpool’s forward line, it seems as though someone like Origi has really struggled to stamp his authority within the starting XI, as Cook eluded to.
“The problem for Liverpool for the last year or two is finding a front player that can come in and compete with the front three of Mane, Firmino and Salah and actually give them competition for places,” Cook told Sky Sports.
“Obviously, with them three lads being as good as we all know they are. It has been really difficult. I think Origi has come in, albeit performance-wise, he has never really stepped up the plate at Liverpool.
“But if you are talking about important big goals then there’s no better than Divock Origi because the goals he has scored for Liverpool football club have been huge.”
One thing is for sure is that Origi has written his name into the Anfield history books and he will be remembered for a long time by those on Merseyside.
Origi first moved to the club as a teenager in 2014 before Klopp or any of the current front three were at the club.
What doesn’t help Origi’s cause is that being in and out of the side hasn’t allowed him to find that rhythm, sharpness or confidence in his game.
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