With the attacking frailties at Liverpool this early on, could Divock Origi be the next big thing? The striking options at Liverpool this season seems extremely limited even with 4 available strikers. Daniel Sturridge is the number one striker, but his continuous injuries have left a huge void upfront. ‘Super Mario’ hasn’t been so super thus far and due to his lack of goals, he is deemed as a waste of money. The remaining two strikers are the old Rickie Lambert and the unproven Fabio Borini – both too unreliable for me. With the options upfront being underwhelming, Origi could be a big part of Liverpool’s plan next season.
Origi first burst onto the world stage at World Cup 2014 in Brazil for Belgium. His goal against Russia in the closing minutes announced Origi on the international stage. Big clubs noticed his strength in the air, along with his pace and power which lead to serious interest from some top clubs. With bids from elsewhere, Origi chose Liverpool as his preferred destination, but was immediately sent back on loan to Lille for experience.
Since returning to Lille, Origi has been on fire, scoring important goals and showing what he can do. In a recent Europa League clash with Everton, Origi showed he could perform at a high level even against a Premier league side. In light of the current situation at Liverpool with regards to strikers, Origi looks like a perfect fit for next year.
In his first interview with the club, he expressed his excitement to join the Reds and the step up from Ligue 1 to the top of the Premier League. He said, “For me, it was my dream to play for a big club. I know Liverpool is a club with a great history, so for me it was perfect.” He continues to express his enthusiasm to join up with the Liverpool squad next season by saying, “I always watched Liverpool on the TV when I was small and if you see players like Gerrard and Sturridge, it’s exciting to know that you’re going to be playing with them.” I think that his potential link with Sturridge could be lethal, as both players are brilliant in one-on-one situations, and both have the raw pace and power that will frighten defenders. Origi’s youthful exuberance and passion will benefit the whole team greatly.
In my opinion, Origi is prepared for the step up to the top tier of English football and all the tolls it come with. The physical aspects of the Premier League and how it will affect Origi is still an unknown entity. However at 6”1, I believe he is strong enough to deal with that element of the league. As shown against Everton in the European game, he is hungry for goals, willing to work for the team, and is ready to prove a point after his £10-million transfer.
I believe Origi will settle into the Liverpool side perfectly next season. If Liverpool uses the diamond formation, it allows Origi and Sturridge to roam freely upfront and run at defences with pace and power. It will also help the other players in the team perform better, like Sterling who will play behind the strikers, giving him the opportunity to pick a pass and utilise his pace as well. With the lack of forwards this season, Origi adds another dimension in the attacking trio along with Sterling and Sturridge. With a squad that’s more gelled, I believe the squad will benefit massively from Divock Origi.
The squad would look like this:
Finally, Divock Origi was unheard of before the World Cup, but his recent form for Belgium and Lille was a huge deciding factor as to why Liverpool purchased him. With the experience gained at Lille and his time with the Belgian national team, he will be fully acclimated to first-team football at a top level. Hopefully, it will prepare him for the level of football as needed by any Liverpool player. I believe if Mario Balotelli continues his current level of performance, then Liverpool would be in need to a top striker and Divock Origi has the potential to fill that void.
Jake Sanders
Latest posts by Jake Sanders (see all)
- Divock Origi: Is the Belgian ready for the Premier League? - October 30, 2014