Jurgen Klopp has lauded Liverpool hero Divock Origi’s ability in-front of goal.
As quoted by liverpoolfc.com after The Reds beat Everton 2-0, Klopp hailed Origi as ‘the best finisher’ at the club.
“He’s (Origi) a legend on and off the pitch, I have to say,” Klopp beamed. “That’s how it is. He is a fantastic footballer, for me, and I know that sounds ridiculous because I don’t line him up often.
“He is a world-class striker, he is our best finisher, definitely; he always was and everybody would say the same. When you see him doing these kinds of things in training and then he is not in the squad because of the quality of the other players, that is really hard.”
It was another magical Merseyside Derby moment as Origi pounced on Luis Diaz’s overhead kick to put the game to bed for Liverpool.
As Klopp says, the Belgian is already a Liverpool legend ahead of what’s looking certain to be a summer departure from the club. Whatever he can produce when given the chance between now and the end of the campaign will only add to the legacy he has built.
Time to say goodbye
Origi’s departure from Liverpool was pretty much all-but-confirmed by Klopp whilst speaking to Sky Sports after yesterday’s match.
“Whatever Div will do in his future, if he gets back what he’s doing here for Liverpool we probably will never ever miss a player more than Divock Origi, because he’ll just explode wherever he goes,” Klopp said.
It’s something of an open secret that the player is leaving for AC Milan in the summer. That will allow for something rare in football to happen during Origi’s last weeks at the club.
The fan’s know he’s going, the player knows he’s going, the manager does too. It’s all in everybody’s own interest that Origi moves on at this point and while there is sadness, there is also a chance for fans to really thank the 27-year-old for his contributions over the last seven years.
Klopp’s faith in Origi gets its reward
It was fantastic to see Divock get his moment in his favourite fixture yesterday.
The Belgium international is still yet to start a Premier League game this season. But Klopp’s decision to throw him on with Liverpool desperate for a win in a neck-and-neck title battle shows exactly what the manager thinks of him.
That he was able to repay that faith felt inevitable given the opposition. Origi has now scored six goals for Liverpool against Everton, twice as many as he’s scored against anyone else.
Liverpool will no doubt miss his uncanny ability to pop up with vital goals. Hopefully Origi can add one or two more before the end of the season before he gets his well-earnt final ovation from the Kop.