7 Sept 2015

'Worst performance': Angry boss slates £32m Liverpool star but praises 'dangerous' LFC team-mate Divock Origi

Despite costing Liverpool £10m, Reds striker Divock Origi is yet to make an appearance for Liverpool this season. Brendan Rodgers clearly doesn't think that Origi is good enough to lead the line for Liverpool, but Belgium manager Marc Wilmots thinks differently, and he's praised the youngster for his performance in last night's European Champions qualifier against Cyprus.

After the match, Wilmots savaged Belgium for delivering 'the worst performance I've seen', and slammed Benteke for delivering what he described as a 'half-performance'.

Wilmots did, however, praise Origi, who replaced Benteke for the second half of the game:

"The contribution of Origi and [Dries] Mertens in the second half was important, because I wanted quick combinations. As a result, in the last half hour we were often dangerous".

In Benteke's defence, he's been struggling with a thigh injury this week, and probably (subconsciously) restricted his play a little to avoid a recurrence.

Benteke's return to action is good news for Liverpool, as is his alleged 'half performance', as it means the Belgian striker will almost certainly be fit for this weekend's trip to Manchester United.

Benteke's presence on the field will be pointless, though, unless Rodgers adjusts his tactics a little and gives the £32m striker some support.

Liverpool legend John Aldridge has called for Danny Ings to play alongside benteke this weekend, and he is certainly an option, but what about Origi?

Is there a chance that Rodgers will start him alongside Benteke on Saturday?

Given his pace, Origi is an enticing option, and given the Reds' current leaden-footed attacking approach, the team could do with a change upfront. With Origi in the team:


------------------ Mignolet
Clyne --------- Skrtel -- Lovren ----- Gomez
------------------- Lucas
------------ Hendo ------ Milner
----------------- Firmino
------------ Origi
----------------- Benteke

OR:

----------------- Mignolet
Clyne --------- Skrtel -- Lovren ----- Moreno
------------------- Lucas
------------ Hendo ----- Milner
----------------- Firmino
----- Origi
----------------- Benteke

Moreno and Origi will provide much-needed width, but I doubt Liverpool will take this route. If fit, Lallana will probably come straight back into the team, and Rodgers will persist with playing Benteke up-front alone.

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Author: Jaimie K


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