Jurgen Klopp explains why Divock Origi was selected over Sadio Mane for Champions League clash
Liverpool ring the changes against AC Milan
Following their strong start to the season, Liverpool have wrung the changes for their Champions League group stage opener against AC Milan.
Joe Gomez was handed his first start of the season following a season out injured, while Divock Origi has come in from the cold amidst injuries to Harvey Elliot, Roberto Firmino and Takumi Minamino.
Our first @ChampionsLeague line-up of the campaign ✊ #LIVACM
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 15, 2021
The Reds, who will be looking to improve on the disappointing defeat to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals last season, now look light in attack, while defensively there is still no debut for new centre-back Ibrahim Konate.
Why Origi is starting
Even with the injury crisis, Divock Origi has seen gametime hard to come by. In fact, he is yet to play a minute of competitive football this campaign, and has not even made the matchday squad for the last three fixtures.
However, Klopp retains faith in him, and explained why he opted for the Belgian forward over Sadio Mane, saying:
“It’s about bringing in fresh legs and surprising the opponent. I’m sure he will play well tonight.”
Klopp on Divock Origi:
“It’s about bringing in fresh legs and surprising the opponent. I’m sure he will play well tonight.” #awlive [bt]
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) September 15, 2021
Could it be that Origi will offer something different to a Liverpool frontline that is likely to see a lot of the ball, while offering a more physical presence than Mane.
Both Mane and Minamino are on the Liverpool bench, just in case the plan does not have the desired success, but could Origi prove an unexpected hero?
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester United | 4 | 8 | 10 |
| 2 | Chelsea FC | 4 | 8 | 10 |
| 3 | Liverpool FC | 4 | 8 | 10 |
| 4 | Everton FC | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 4 | 10 | 9 |
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| 8 | West Ham United | 4 | 5 | 8 |
| 9 | Leicester City | 4 | -2 | 6 |
| 10 | Brentford FC | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 11 | Crystal Palace | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 12 | Aston Villa | 4 | -2 | 4 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 14 | Southampton FC | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| 15 | Watford FC | 4 | -4 | 3 |
| 16 | Arsenal FC | 4 | -8 | 3 |
| 17 | Leeds United | 4 | -7 | 2 |
| 18 | Burnley FC | 4 | -5 | 1 |
| 19 | Newcastle United | 4 | -7 | 1 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 4 | -10 | 0 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 4 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 4 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Lukaku, Romelu | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Gray, Demarai | Everton FC | 3 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 3 |
| Greenwood, Mason | Manchester United | 3 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 2 |
| Fornals, Pablo | West Ham United | 2 |
| Torres, Ferran | Manchester City | 2 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 2 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 2 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 2 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Edouard, Odsonne | Crystal Palace | 2 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 0 | 3 |
| Cooper, Liam | Leeds United | 0 | 3 |
| Etebo, Oghenekaro | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 2 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 2 |
| Duffy, Shane | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 2 |
| Norgaard, Christian | Brentford FC | 0 | 2 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 2 |
| Rodri | Manchester City | 0 | 2 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 2 |
| Struijk, Pascal | Leeds United | 1 | 1 |
| Tanganga, Japhet | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 1 |
| Schar, Fabian | Newcastle United | 0 | 2 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 2 |
| Stephens, Jack | Southampton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Marcal, Fernando | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 2 |
| Moura, Lucas | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 2 |
| Jimenez, Raul | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 3 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 3 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 2 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 2 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 2 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| Pereira, Ricardo | Leicester City | 2 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 1 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 1 |
| Fornals, Pablo | West Ham United | 1 |
| Torres, Ferran | Manchester City | 1 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 1 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace | 1 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 1 |
