Former Manchester United star Robin van Persie has slammed Divock Origi for his performance in Liverpool’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday.
Origi started in Jurgen Klopp’s front-three alongside Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, but even though those two created a lot of chances between them, the Belgium international failed to have much say on what went on in the Reds’ attack.
After the match, van Persie compared Origi’s movement to that of ex-Anfield ace Raheem Sterling, claiming that the Liverpool forward was not creating enough opportunities and space for himself.
“If you compare him with Sterling for example, if you compare his runs, he’s not choosing his runs at the right time,” said van Persie on BT Sport 1 on Sunday afternoon [05:15pm].
“He’s not making the pre-run, you have to make a change of direction at one point and you have to go and hurt them.”
Van Persie added: “In the first-half he had a couple of chances where he could have used but he didn’t take them.
“And Sterling, for example, is finding the space. He’s creating it for himself.”
OPINION
Although he’s a former Man United player, you have to admit that van Persie talks a lot of sense about Origi and maybe it’s a lack of experience or a lack of knowledge that has stopped the Belgium international for doing these things that the Dutchman speaks of. Sterling has managed it but he has being playing regularly in the Premier League for years. Origi has had a tougher time of honing his skills because he has spent most of his time in England as a squad player. Origi’s impact off the bench, as shown last season, is great. However the ex-Lille ace really struggled from the off against Man City and that could be a worrying sign for Liverpool fans if someone like Sadio Mane or Salah was to suffer an injury or suspension in the middle of the new season. It’s still early days though and Origi can still improve. Also this way against Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions.
