What Liverpool to do with Divock Origi now?
Divock Origi enjoyed an incredible 2018/19 season, in his first season back at Liverpool after an unsuccessful £6.5m loan to Wolfsburg in the 2017/18 season making 36 appearances and scoring 7 goals and making 3 assists. This season, however, he has been there for Liverpool off the bench making 20 appearances and scoring 7 goals. Although statistically, this isn’t an incredible feat, he has been much better this season and has improved under Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
In all competitions in the 2018/19 season, Divock Origi has had a conversion rate of 41.1% which means that 41% of the shots that he takes result in goals. Liverpool’s second best conversion rate comes from winger Sadio Mane who has a conversion rate of 21.8%, almost half Divock Origi’s which is an incredible feat. In comparison to world class stars, Lionel Messi’s conversion rate is 19.8%, Neymar Jr’s is 20.8% and Harry Kane’s is 18.3%. Although this is an incredible statistic, Divock Origi has played considerably fewer minutes that these stars clocking in at only 700 minutes in the league (Lionel Messi has over 3000.)
Many times this season, Divock Origi has come off the bench to deliver for the team when they’re in desperate need of a goal, especially when he hit the net twice when Liverpool smashed FC Barcelona 4-0 in the 2nd leg of UCL semi-finals. This is hugely important for a club like Liverpool which will be competing in multiple competitions in the 2019/20 season. A few examples of Divock Origi’s goals this season are in vital moments such as these.
In the 2018-19 Merseyside derby, Liverpool played against Everton in Anfield on a Sunday night in December. The score was 0-0 until the 97th minute where Divock Origi scored after a mistake from England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford gifted the Belgian striker an easy goal.
After Liverpool’s 3-0 first leg defeat to FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi final, everyone wrote off the men in red after seeing attackers Mohammad Salah and Roberto Firmino injured. They went into the second leg at Anfield with Divock Origi starting up front with little to no hope, but the Belgian striker delivered. Scoring 2 goals in the 7th and 79th minute which helped Liverpool reach the Champions League final.
In the UEFA Champions League final, Liverpool were leading fellow English side Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in an incredibly close game. In the 58th minute, Roberto Firmino was substituted off for semi final hero Divock Origi who subsequently scored in the 87th minute which all but secured the Champions League title.
This season, Divock Origi was used as a rotation striker, he’s 24 years old and has time to improve. Next season Liverpool will most likely use him in the same way as they have a very viable substitute on their hands. However, Divock Origi may decide he wants to be a starter at another club and may want to leave the club. Liverpool has an incredible fanbase and definitely love the striker and will want him to stay, this could be a factor for Divock Origi if he decides to stay.
