Liverpool journalist Guy Clark has given his view on Divock Origi’s future, or lack thereof at the club following his absence at the weekend.
Jürgen Klopp’s side ran out 3-0 winners at Elland Road with goals from Mohamed Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mane enough to grab the points however, as has been the case for the rest of the games to start this season, the Belgian forward was nowhere to be seen, with Klopp deciding to go with a number of midfielders on the bench instead and no recognised forward.
Origi’s future at Anfield was in doubt over the summer, with a report from The Athletic claiming that the club were open to selling him “if a suitable offer is tabled”, but given his lack of minutes so far this season, speaking on the Blood Red podcast, Clarke felt that his latest exclusion given the state of the team sent a clear message as it pertains to his prospects at the club:
(46:15) “Isn’t it quite damning though from Jürgen Klopp a lack of faith in Origi? The fact that you just mentioned there; Curtis Jones, James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Nabi Keita, all primarily central midfield players, as too is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain albeit he came on in that false-nine role and can play wide.”
(47:23) “All I’m saying is it just shows maybe a clear lack of faith that Klopp has in Divock Origi, the fact that he’s got five, at least four but five central midfield players on the bench and he’s not put Origi on the pitch when everyone was saying it was also a striker’s paradise to be playing Leeds because of how wide open they are, when surely even to have him on the bench when there’s nine men there, is it not kind of underlining the point that he doesn’t really think he’s maybe quite up to what he needs?”
TIF Thoughts on Guy Clark’s comments on Divock Origi at Liverpool
Does Origi have a future at Liverpool?
Yes
No
Clark does raise an interesting point, that if Origi can’t even get on the bench in that game against Leeds when you consider that there are now nine substitute spots available on the bench and Klopp decided not to go with any forwards at all, you do start to wonder when he’s going to get any sort of minutes at all.
There will be some opportunities for him going forward to get into the matchday squad with European games and the Carabao Cup 3rd round approaching, the injury to Harvey Elliott will also offer up a space in the matchday squad as well, so we shouldn’t necessarily be ruling things out just yet.
But if he doesn’t get his chance in those games, especially the Carabao Cup where rotation is par for the course, then it might be the biggest sign yet that his time at the club is up for good.
In other news: ‘He could do it’ – Journalist claims Liverpool could get ‘burned’ in big warning