Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp might have broken a sweat as he saw Divock Origi sit down on the pitch during the final few minutes of the 3-0 win over Middlesbrough. The Belgian was on target once again as the Reds picked up a crucial win and finished the match day in second place, ahead of Arsenal on goals scored.
The Merseyside club has been unlucky with their injuries this season but the German manager was optimistic of the Belgian striker to take part in the derby against Everton on the 19th of December.
Klopp was speaking to the club’s official website after the game and stated that Origi didn’t have a major injury issue.
“I don’t think [he is injured], no. A little knock and a little bit of pain. We wanted to change Sadio but then Divock was on the floor.”
That will come as a huge sigh of relief for the Reds as the derby will be one of their toughest games, especially since the mini-revival Ronald Koeman has brought on at Everton.
There are a number of winter fixtures that have reduced the rest period for all the teams in the Premier League and Klopp spoke out about playing three games after the Everton match in less than a week.
“The good thing is we are not the only team! We knew it before, it’s not so nice. I am not sure what you think about it but the [two games in three days against Manchester City and Sunderland] is not the best idea in the world but all the rest is quite OK,” he said.
“To play on December 19 and then 27 now, that’s a big gap. From now to Everton is normal and then there’s a big gap, that’s all OK. The [later gap] is a funny idea but we have to be there and we will be there.”
Injuries have been a major problem for the Reds this season
Klopp also lamented that the Reds didn’t have the necessary luck when it came to players picking up injuries. Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings seem to be perennially injured while one of their best players this season, Philippe Coutinho is expected to be out until the New Year.
“To be really successful we needed a little bit of luck with injuries and until now we have not [been] the luckiest guys in the league. It’s not a lot but it is enough but we have still a good team, so we will go through however.”
Origi needs to play in the game against Everton, otherwise, the Reds would be without quality in the attacking third. While the Belgian has scored five goals in five games, Klopp would have been pleased with the performance of Adam Lallana.
Even with Philippe Coutinho’s absence, Lallana scored twice and assisted once in the 3-0 win over Boro and the manager will hope that the Englishman has a big role to play in the derby.
