‘That’s a joke’: Klopp explains why Liverpool player wasn’t even on the bench vs Arsenal, reports he’ll now leave

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Jurgen Klopp says ‘it’s a joke’ that Divock Origi doesn’t even make the Liverpool squad right now. The Belgian may leave this summer.

Liverpool saw off Arsenal 2-0 on Wednesday evening – a massive statement in the title race. This, after all, was the second-biggest game left in the Reds’ Premier League calendar and they came away with all the points.

In truth, it wasn’t the best performance in the world. Liverpool’s first half was actually quite poor for the most part but things turned around dramatically in the second.

They showed their quality to score an excellent first – Thiago’s perfect pass splitting the defence for Diogo Jota to finish. The no.20 then left the pitch with Luis Diaz as Jurgen Klopp called on his Liverpool bench.

On came Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. The Brazilian then made it 2-0 soon afterwards, turning home an Andy Robertson cut-back. Liverpool were comfortable from there.

It was a fantastic display of strength here, with Liverpool showing off five world-class forwards. It’s something the Reds can really rely on going forward – strength in depth that even the best can’t match.

Klopp himself certainly sees the strength but he believes you can see the depth in who didn’t play, rather than those who shone.

Jurgen Klopp on Divock Origi at Liverpool

“Divock Origi was not in the squad today,” Klopp told a press conference. “That’s a joke as well because if you see him training you would think, ‘how can you leave him at home?’

“But that’s it.”

Origi has had some fantastic moments this season but right now, he just can’t get into the squad. It’s not even through any fault of his own – the quality at Liverpool is just that strong.

Unfortunately, this likely means Origi leaves the club this summer. Fabrizio Romano reported as much this morning – the Belgian won’t renew his expiring contract.

Losing such a loved player is a casualty of Liverpool’s strength, then. It’s a shame but as Klopp says, it’s also a joke that a player as good as Origi can’t get in the team.