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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Liverpool facing transfer decision over Divock Origi - and Barcelona could determine future

When it comes to outpouring of adulation compared to minutes on the field, no Liverpool player has been anywhere near as efficient as Divock Origi this season.

Origi will forever be feted by Reds supporters for his dramatic late winner against Everton at Anfield back in December.

Much, much more important, though, was the Belgian's strike to earn a 3-2 triumph at Newcastle United on Saturday night.

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In terms of unlikely heroes, this campaign has seen none greater.

Yet can that be truly said of a player who had scored in a World Cup as a teenager and been an integral part of Jurgen Klopp's first Liverpool iteration?

For context, consider Origi's position last summer. Having underwhelmed during a season on loan at Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, the Reds were happy to listen to offers for the forward.

Origi turned down a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers after a deal was agreed between the clubs, while Valencia and Borussia Dortmund were put off by the asking price.

The striker stayed put. It seemed a long road back.

"He has seen the difference between Liverpool and other clubs and will obviously know that he has to fight hard to remain in Liverpool which is a bigger club," said his father, Mike Okoth, back in August.

“Three months in football is a long time and Divock is already doing well in training and the coach is happy. Let’s wait and see what will happen between now and the winter window.”

Indeed, another three months passed before Origi featured in the first team as a late substitute in the Champions League defeat at Red Star Belgrade. He didn't even make the matchday squad until October 20.

Divock Origi scores Liverpool's third goal during the Premier League match at Newcastle United (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

But that European outing proved a turning point of sorts, his moment to remember against Everton coming just days later.

However, despite Origi's greater subsequent involvement, it has come from the fringes.

The Belgian's cameo on Tyneside was only his 12th Premier League outing of the season, with a mere three coming from the start, one of which saw him score in the 5-0 romp over Watford at Anfield in February.

He has made six appearances in the Champions League, but was hauled off at half-time of his solitary start at Porto. Origi also netted during a 90-minute outing in the FA Cup defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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By comparison, Daniel Sturridge, with whom Origi has been vying for the role of first understudy to the regular front three, has made eight starts with 18 substitute appearances.

Sturridge, preferred to Origi as starter in the absence of Roberto Firmino from the last two Premier League games, will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season.

And Liverpool face a decision over the long-term future of the Belgian, who has a year remaining on his deal and would be able to follow Sturridge out the door for nothing in barely 12 months.

Jurgen Klopp acknowledges Origi's attributes. But the Reds are certain to bolster their forward options with the drop-off in quality from Firmino's absence glaringly obvious in the Champions League semi-final defeat at Barcelona - Origi benched and Sturridge not involved as Gini Wijnaldum acted as the makeshift number nine.

And the situation is complicated further by the emergence of Rhian Brewster, Liverpool hopeful the teenager can make his first-team breakthrough next season.

With Firmino again missing when Barcelona visit Anfield on Tuesday, Klopp's selection will be hugely indicative.

Divock Origi prepares to score the goal that kickstarted his Liverpool campaign against Everton in December (Photo/Jon Super)

No matter what happens during the closing week of the season, Origi will forever have a place in the hearts of supporters.

But if he isn't going to have one regularly in the starting line-up, some difficult choices need to be made over the summer by both the player and his club.

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