Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has predicted Divock Origi will come off the substitute’s bench to score the winner for Liverpool in their Premier League clash against West Ham.
The Arsenal and Celtic legend claimed the Merseyside giants will have a tough test in Monday’s London Stadium showdown but hardly-ever-seen Origi could be the matchwinner.
“They (West Ham) will be dangerous and a real test for them (Liverpool) and if they play it more like a counterattacking game, it will suit them and Liverpool will be a bit agitated,” Nicholas told Sky Sports.
“If I am Pellegrini, then I’m playing this as an away match and let Liverpool have possession. But I just feel this game will suit Liverpool going to the London Stadium and they will nick it, but there could be late drama with Origi coming off the bench to win it.”
OPINION
Origi has already made one crucial intervention for Liverpool this season when he ensured he will never have to buy a drink in Merseyside ever again after scoring the derby day winner against Everton with the last touch of the game. It would be remarkable if a player who has had just 173 minutes of first-team action this season, and indeed over the last 18 months, were to win another game as the title race threatens to go to the wire between Liverpool and Manchester City. Jurgen Klopp’s side suffered a midweek blip as they froze in icy conditions against a well-drilled Leicester City. On the face of it, West Ham should provide more compliant opposition, especially following a couple of dreadful recent performances and against a backdrop of the excruciating Marko Arnautovic transfer saga. Liverpool fans will be hoping that Origi will not have to be summoned from the bench to win the match.