LFC Daytrippers contributor Peter Smith has been discussing Divock Origi’s situation at Liverpool during a recent episode of the podcast in which the panel were looking ahead to the club’s final UEFA Champions League group game.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will take on FC Midtjylland having already won Group D, a game Origi could be set to start in. The Belgian, who famously scored the Reds’ second goal during the 2019 UEFA Champions League final victory over Spurs, has been limited to just one appearance in the English top-flight this season.
The 25-year-old has endured a ‘frustrating’ season so far and when the subject of the striker and whether he’ll play on Wednesday evening came up, Smith had this to say:
“Origi, I’m not going to defend him anymore. He’s as static as they come.
“He’s done, let’s be honest and he’s probably thought to himself ‘why have I stayed? I’ve got my medals around my neck and I could have been a starter.’
“The fella has scored legendary goals at the biggest club in the world, he could have walked out with his head held high, now all of a sudden people are talking about him being a bad player.
“His morale is as low as it could possibly get.”
Is it time for Divock Origi to leave the club?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on Peter Smith’s comments regarding Divock Origi…
Given Smith’s comments, we can assume he feels the player should have left the club in the summer and the fact that he has remained has had a negative impact on his career.
Since signing for the Reds, the player has made 145 appearances, contributing 35 goals and 13 assists (as per Transfermarkt). Having previously provided cover for Klopp’s side in the absence of one of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino or Sadio Mane, he now finds himself further down the pecking order with Diogo Jota having come in over the summer in a deal worth £40.23m.
The Portuguese attacker has already scored nine goals in 16 appearances for the Reds so in our view, if the £14.4m-rated Origi wishes to play regular football, he will probably need to leave Anfield either in January or next summer.