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Nichol blasts Origi after new Liverpool deal agreed

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Image for Nichol blasts Origi after new Liverpool deal agreed

OPINION

ESPN pundit Steve Nichol has torn Divock Origi to shreds and claims that Liverpool should not have handed the forward a new contract.

It was confirmed on Wednesday that Origi, 24, has penned a new long-term deal at Anfield as his previous agreement was due to expire at the end of next season.

Origi played a key role for Liverpool last season as he scored crucial goals to help them win the Champions League title and maintain their Premier League title bid until the final day.

However Nicol believes that it’s a poor decision by the club and has questioned the attitude of Origi.

“I don’t think Origi is any better today than he was [when he was 19],” said Nichol, as shown on ESPN’s YouTube channel. “He doesn’t’ see the field enough.

“He’s come on and scored some important goals, yes. But his actual play is not good enough, it’s not a high level.

“If [Jurgen] Klopp wants to give [Roberto] Firmino a rest, for example, and you play Divock Origi, the level drops so far down. That’s my problem.”

Nichol added: “That’s worrying. A 24-year-old who’s not getting a game is quite happy to sign a contract to sit on his backside.

“We’re talking about the best of the best, we’re talking about the European champions that have to stay at that level.”

Nichol has completely missed the point in his bizarre rant about Origi.

Although sentimentality may have had something to do with Liverpool handing a new deal to the ex-Lille forward, the 24-year-old deserved his contract because he proved himself to be a valuable member of the squad.

Football is a squad game, Nichol should know that.

If Origi went this summer or next, would Liverpool be able to sign someone as good as him who is happy to sit on the bench and wait patiently for a chance to shine on the pitch? Maybe. However it would be difficult to convince a top forward to come to Merseyside to only play every now and then.

What is most important about Origi signing a new contract is that he’s proven himself to be someone who can come off the bench, or replace Firmino, in big games and make an impact.

Last season, the Belgium international scored eight goals 21 appearances across all competitions. Out of those 21 appearances, just seven of them were starts.

That means that Origi scored more goals than he did earn starts for the Reds last term as he hit winners against Everton and Newcastle in the league, and against Barcelona and Tottenham in the Champions League.

Origi didn’t deserve his new deal just because of sentimentality, he earned it.

And if anything, Liverpool have protected a saleable asset, who they can now demand more money for if someone comes in for him next summer and beyond.

Nichol hasn’t thought this through at all.

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