Why Brendan Rodgers Is Regretting Letting Divock Origi Return to Lille on Loan

A goal and an assist in Belgium’s 6-0 rout of Andorra last Friday ensured that Liverpool striker Divock Origi, now back at Lille on loan for the season, has once again catapulted into the limelight.

Manchester City and Belgium captain Vincent Kompany has recently taken to the press and commended Origi’s ability and potential, calling him a “monster” as well as an “outstanding worker in training,” according to Kristian Walsh of the Liverpool Echo.

At club level, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has gone on record expressing his disappointment that Origi isn’t at his immediate disposal this season and that the 19-year-old will go on and develop into a “world-class” player, per the Daily Star.

With a fellow 19-year-old in Raheem Sterling similarly playing a key role in his team, it comes as no surprise that Rodgers is ruing the decision to let Lille keep Origi on loan for another season—even though, as Dominic King reported for the Daily Mail, it was part of the deal to convince Lille to sell in the first place.

A Much-Needed Goal Threat

A goal in the 2014 Brazil World Cup against Russia, which made him the youngest goalscorer in Belgian World Cup history and at the time the youngest in the tournament, and a sudden rise to international prominence at the expense of Romelu Lukaku, seemed to have done wonders for Origi’s confidence.

With three goals already in just four Ligue 1 starts this season, Origi is already inching close to his goal record over the entirety of last season, when he notched just five in league action for Lille, and he has now become the chief goal threat for Rene Girard’s side.

According to King of the Daily Mail, Rodgers has gone on record commending Origi’s speed and overall profile as a Liverpool player, while Kompany has also praised his technical ability and stated that his progress would see him “among the five or 10 best strikers in the world” in a few years, per Walsh of the Echo.

Origi’s propensity to run off the shoulders of the last defender and spearhead the attack echoes Daniel Sturridge’s direct playing style and deadly finishing, both of which have been missed at Anfield this season due to Sturridge’s injury.

While Sturridge is reportedly on the edge of a first-team return, according to Liam Prenderville of the Mirror, his absence has had a direct effect on Liverpool’s results, which have taken a downturn and seen Rodgers come under pressure after a run of uninspiring results. Origi could’ve provided the cutting edge that has been absent for the past few weeks.

Keeping up the Full-Pitch Press

The absence of Joe Allen and Emre Can in the midfield thus far, coupled with Philippe Coutinho’s slow start to the season, have seen the Reds rely heavily on the work rate of Jordan Henderson, though Adam Lallana’s return has injected some much-needed endeavor into the midfield.

But it is across the forward line that Liverpool’s successful system last season was built, and without Daniel Sturridge’s constant penetration and Luis Suarez’s hard work off the ball, they have simply not looked the same going forward thus far.

More than Origi’s goalscoring ability alone—for even Mario Balotelli’s detractors will acknowledge that he can change a game with his magic—one of the major criticisms leveled at the Italian striker has been his lack of work rate, at least compared to his immediate predecessor.

While Suarez’s combination of effervescence and world-class ability may never be truly replaced at Anfield, Origi could’ve provided the pressing that is so central to Rodgers’ blueprint and offered at least a more consistent continuation of last season’s form.

Perhaps this was why Rodgers referenced Suarez in his quotes about Origi’s potential to become world-class: He will be aware of Origi’s application and work rate upfront from regular scouting reports and contact, according to Alex Sharp of the Daily Mail.

The Silver Lining is Much More Important

That said, even Rodgers himself has conceded, per the Mail, that Lille could only have been persuaded to sell to Liverpool if they could keep Origi for another season. In exchange for this arrangement, the Reds would be required to pay £10 million for his services, as reported by BBC Sport.

Rodgers’ inevitable and understandable regret at the terms of the deal will be tempered by the fact that he has already secured Origi’s services beginning next summer, when there will be no major international tournament and he will be able to take part in the entirety of Liverpool’s preseason campaign.

Add Origi’s continued rise to prominence for both club and country this season, contrast that with an immediate role as just a squad player at Anfield—which he would’ve been this season had Sturridge stayed fit—and Rodgers will be bringing in one of Ligue 1 and Belgium’s finest striking talents for just £10 million.

Perhaps experimenting with Fabio Borini in a three-man front line alongside Balotelli and Sturridge, given Borini’s similarities in playing style to Origi on paper, would be a way for Rodgers to focus on his team right now but also prepare them for Origi’s addition next summer without a huge tactical change.

Either way, a season of first-team football at Lille, where Origi is the undisputed first-choice striker, will provide him another year of sustained footballing development, which will hopefully see him join Liverpool next summer as a seasoned international player of some stature and reputation.

Rodgers’ job now is to secure a top-four slot for the Reds and welcome Origi into a Champions League squad next year; any regrets now would surely be wiped out by then.

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