Liverpool FC’s first-half performance in the eventual 1-0 loss to Burnley at Anfield on Thursday night was largely highlighted by Divock Origi squandering a brilliant chance to give his side the lead minutes prior to Mike Dean sounding out the half-time whistle.
The Belgian international was through on goal after the Clarets skipper Ben Mee had misjudged a backward pass and had given Origi a hand out in no lesser terms to open the scoring, only for the Liverpool FC striker to fire his effort against the crossbar of Nick Pope’s goal.
And the fringe first-teamer’s showing was lambasted by Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness in the aftermath of Liverpool FC’s first home defeat since April 2017, with the Reds great stating that the Belgian attacker was nothing short of surplus to requirements to Klopp on the back of a further drop in form when handed a rare outing in top-flight action.
“Anyone but him, really, if it had been any of the normal front three,” Souness told Sky Sports, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
“I know he’s got some important goals for them, but I did say to you, as he was going through that he’s not gonna score here. His first touch is great, second touch great, gives himself time to open the body up and he’s missed it.
“You can say if it was six inches lower, or six inches to the left then it’s a goal, but it wasn’t. He doesn’t hit it in the back of the net, it’s a bad miss.
Origi’s inclusion in the Reds XI that took the field at home turf in the midweek fixture was a shock to many, considering that fact that the 25-year-old had been on fringes of Jurgen Klopp’s first-team plans in recent times as speculation links him with a move away from Anfield in the ongoing January transfer window.
