Liverpool manager Klopp claims Origi much more than supersub; BVB wanted him

Posted Tuesday, December 07, 2021 by Tribalfootball.com

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Divock Origi can be much more than a supersub and revealed Borussia Dortmund wanted to sign the Belgian.

Origi scored yet another late goal for Liverpool over the weekend, his 94th minute streak helping Klopp's side claim a 1-0 win over Wolves.

And Klopp thinks the 26-year-old has much to offer than simply being an "impact sub".

"Has he ever moaned at not starting? Moaned is not the right word but he has knocked on my door and we're talking about things," Klopp said of Origi.

"We've worked together since I have been here pretty much, so it has happened from time to time but it's not about talking about things, it's about letting things happen.

"And it's not that Div was always in a world-class shape in all situations and I just didn't bring him, he just got injured in the wrong moments.

"I still remember and it's one of the really, really decisive moments in the Everton game when Div was flying at that time (before injury).

"We played a game at Dortmund and everyone was asking me 'what kind of striker is that?'

"They had lost Lewandowski a few months before to Bayern Munich and they were like 'oh my God! He's pretty much the same level'.

"And then Div got really badly injured (against Everton) and we had to rush him back for the Europa League final. These kinds of things are influential for careers.

"Then step by step he improved with a specific lineup and very often it was Bobby, Mo and Sadio and Div was behind them, he played the role and that is how life is.

"It's like I said after the Wolves game, if you are not a starter for Liverpool it does not mean you are not a world-class player. It is possible.

"I know some people see it differently from time to time but in specific moments, Div is outstanding and everyone was overly happy when he scored the goal. Not only because he scored but because he scored the goal.

"It's a nice story, so let's carry on from here.

"[Being an impact sub] is one special thing in his skillset. It's not the only thing – it's not that he can only come on and play well."

Klopp added: "He had brilliant games for us from the start. In one of the biggest games in our history - against Barcelona [in 2019], for example - he started, played an incredible game and scored the goals in the right moments.

"It's just part of his skillset, that's it. He is a very positive person, that's for sure, and he is incredibly talented, that's just how it is.

"He can shoot with right and left; his technical level is incredible. He's really, really, really quick, how he is in the air, we all know, a monster as well.

"He is a really interesting package. But, that doesn't mean that you are a constant starter for Liverpool FC because of the quality we have. That's how it is. That's how life is.

"There are worse things than being not a constant starter for Liverpool FC, I tell you.

"It's really nice to be part of this squad, really nice to be part of this team. It's all good but it's nice that he has that skill and that he used it at the weekend."