Danny Mills heaped praise on Liverpool attacker Divock Origi after the forward signed a new deal with the Reds.
Liverpool announced, via their official Twitter account on Wednesday, that the 24-year-old had signed a new long-term contract with the club and Mills believes it was important for Jurgen Klopp’s side that they tied him down.
Mills shared that he thought Origi was a fabulous backup striker for Liverpool to have as he understands that he has to bide his time and wait for a chance to feature.
“It’s important that he signed, he’s a fabulous backup striker,” said Mills in an interview with Football Insider.
“We’ve seen how he came on in games and started games at the back end of last season, you wouldn’t want to lose a player like that, who isn’t happy to be on the bench but clearly understands that he will have to bide his time.
“When he does (play), has not let the club down in any way, shape or form.”
OPINION
Mills, who is regularly seen on Sky Sports, is spot-on about Origi. The Sky Sports pundit is right to suggest that Liverpool are lucky to have a player of Origi’s calibre as back-up as normally someone as talented as him would demand to be regularly played. However, Origi no doubt appreciates playing for a club the size of the Reds and is no doubt aware of why Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are ahead of him in the pecking order. The 24-year-old continually gives his all whenever he is given a chance to feature and that makes him an asset. Last season, Origi proved his weight in gold by popping up with goals when the Reds needed him most. The 24-year-old scored a last-gasp winner against Everton in December despite only playing six minutes of that match, as per Transfermarkt, and scored twice in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. Origi while no doubt content at being back-up for now, based on him signing a new deal, you do feel like he may end up appearing for the Reds more than 12 times in the league in his 2019/20 campaign.
