Steve Nicol has suggested Liverpool are a side much better off without Divock Origi, whom he labelled a ‘horrendous’ footballer in open play.
The 61-year-old, who played a key part in Bob Paisley’s monster Reds outfit of the 1980s, begrudgingly admitted that the Belgian international had scored a few key goals in his time at Anfield.
“Did he score a goal? Yes, he did. That’s what the guy did at Liverpool. He never saw the field until the last 5-10 minutes, and yes, he had a habit of scoring big goals,” the former Red told ESPNFC.
“But I tell you what, in open play, he was horrendous. And in that final (against Tottenham), he was horrendous as well, even though he scored a goal.
“For a guy who is about 6ft 12. He can’t head a ball to save his life. He couldn’t hold a bag of cement if you played it up to him. He couldn’t pass a ball to someone with the same colour of jersey on. And he can’t head the ball.
“But he scored a goal in the final! His actual play is garbage.”
The now Nottingham Forest striker ended his Merseyside career with 55 goal contributions in 175 games for the club.
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No one is under any illusion at Liverpool that Origi was the greatest striker ever to grace the pitch, or even on par with the likes of Fernando Torres, Ian Rush or Luis Suarez.
That said, to claim that the former Lille man was ‘garbage’ from open play is quite the harsh remark of a player who had a critical say in some of the biggest trophies won during Jurgen Klopp’s time at the helm.
There may not be any statues built in the near future to commemorate his former value to Liverpool, but there’s not a question in our minds here at Empire that Divock is owed a great deal more respect for his contributions at L4 than he’s been shown.
He’s right Origi is an awful footballer who got in the right space at the right time. Don’t normally agree with Nicol but he’s on the money.
55 goals ffs
55 goals and assists together I believe . Not 55 goals.
Is it me or does Nicol say the things that will give him headlines and keep himself sort of relevant
Most of the stuff is negative
His thoughts on Divock are just not needed
YNWA
Nicholl is a numpty. Divock was brilliant for us until he got injured against the Bitters. Never regained that form but never really got the chance coz the others where on fire. When he did come on he would often nick one. Plus whenever ever played to his strengths. He would need Mo on the left and Sadio on the right swinging in crosses.
Origi scored important goals when we needed it the most. Remember the game against Barcelona in the Champions league semi final at Anfield, those goals scored by Origi were awesome. Nicoll can say what he wants but Origi was an asset to Liverpool.
U no wat Nicholl is bang on ,to many supporters singing the chant rather than watching him play,a waste of space, Liverpool supporters know there football, cop on,he was labelled the worst ever signing in series A ,by football journalists in Italy, he had the worst stats in French league, the year Liverpool bought him and left him on loan,call a spade a spade,
A little harsh maybe but not far off the mark, origi has flopped in Seria A which is not the force it was, also Steve Nicol was a teammate of, Rush,Dalglish, Robinson, Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge, he certainly knows what top forward players require at the highest level