Origi makes his case to Klopp
It is two years since Liverpool signed Divock Origi from Lille, but only now does he look set to meet expectations.
|||Jurgen Klopp had barely settled into his seat in the Levi’s Stadium press auditorium when the first question about Divock Origi arrived.
Liverpool’s manager was not about to cooperate. Klopp stressed firmly that he wanted to concentrate on the team ethic which he felt characterised his side’s 2-0 win over AC Milan, rather than focusing on the efforts of an individual.
This time, though, Klopp was on his own. He may not have wanted to discuss Origi, other than to say ‘everyone knows his potential’, but everybody else did.
Jet-heeled and dynamic, the Belgium striker ran all over the fallen Italian giants to give a tantalising glimpse into Liverpool’s future.
Who starts the campaign up front is a puzzle Klopp will wrestle with for the next fortnight, given that Roberto Firmino did himself no harm with the game’s other goal, Daniel Sturridge showed flashes of class and Danny Ings continues to train powerfully.
Yet Origi’s credentials to lead the line on the opening day at Arsenal will be as strong as anybody’s if he maintains the standards he has set after just a week of full training. His goal against Milan — thumped in from 18 yards after fine close control — was excellent, his performance just as good.
‘It can be a big season for me,’ said Origi, who scored 10 times last season after Klopp arrived.
‘I still have to work a lot and there is a lot of room for improvement but I try to learn day to day.
‘You need to perform every week. I want to become an important player here. I came with ambition.
‘I can feel the confidence from everyone and can improve and enjoy my game. I’m improving year by year and I’m still young (20). The most important thing is to make steps and last year I had some good moments, so I want to learn and become more consistent. If I make big steps, I will be happy.’
It is two years since Liverpool signed Origi from Lille, the buzz that surrounded his £10million move coming on the back of performances for Belgium at the World Cup, but only now does he look set to meet expectations.
‘I thought he finished last season brilliantly,’ said Jordan Henderson, the Liverpool captain. ‘He got a bad injury towards the end (damaged ankle ligaments) but he is looking sharp in training. He is going to have a big season. He is going to be a big player for us, I’m convinced about that.’
Quite how much of a barometer AC Milan are for Liverpool’s progress is open to debate — had the Reds scored four there could have been no complaints — but Klopp was thrilled to see the contributions of new boys Sadio Mane and Gini Wijnaldum.
Klopp is intending to flood his team with goalscorers and Wijnaldum, who looked polished in his first appearance following a £25million move from Newcastle, has already set himself a significant target.
‘A player with my quality has to get a minimum of 10 goals,’ said the Dutchman. ‘That’s what I always say. Sometimes you reach more and sometimes less, but last season I got 11. Because I create so many chances, I have to score at least 10 — that’s the pressure I put on myself.’ – Daily Mail