Jamie Carragher blasted Divock Origi for his first-half performance in Liverpool’s penalty shoot-out win against Arsenal at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Origi, 24, scored two goals after the break, with his last strike being a stoppage-time equaliser that saw the game end 5-5 and head to the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.
However Carragher was really not impressed with what he saw from the ex-Lille forward in the first half, especially when Arsenal scored their second goal.
“Origi has been really poor,” said the Liverpool legend at half time on Sky Sports Football on Wednesday night [08:24pm]. “He switches off here.
“Origi’s got to do better. He needs to switch on.”
Carragher added: “The senior players need to step up, mainly [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain and Origi.
“Origi. You’re struggling to think he scored the goal that won Liverpool the European Cup.”
Origi has started three times in the Premier League this season and it remains to be seen whether it will become four this weekend due to a knock received by Mohamed Salah last week
OPINION
Origi did get on the scoresheet but his overall performance was not the best – as it usually is when he starts. Origi’s goals against Barcelona and Tottenham last season played a huge role in Liverpool winning their sixth European title. However it is definitely worth pointing out that the Belgium international is a lot better and has much more of an impact when he comes off the bench. Origi is not the best when he starts although his only other goal this season came when he started in the 4-1 win against Norwich on the opening day of the Premier League campaign. The ex-Lille man just seems to have a better impact when he is brought on in the closing stages of matches, but you can understand why Jurgen Klopp started him against Arsenal with the clear aim of handing Roberto Firmino a well-earned rest. Origi might still start this weekend if Salah fails to recover from his knock. Hopefully he can improve by then.
