It pains to say it, but there is only one Reds striker scoring right now – and he’s not even on Merseyside. That man is Lille OSC’s Divock Origi.
Liverpool are struggling for goals from their forward line at present, with Daniel Sturridge injured, neither Mario Balotelli or Rickie Lambert having fully settled since summer moves, and Fabio Borini not yet having proven himself the requisite quality.
However, the 19 year-old Origi has scored six times this season, including a stunning strike for Belgium against Iceland in their friendly earlier this week, making space for himself with some deft footwork before blasting in from outside the area on his weaker left foot.
The goal once again prompted calls for Origi to be recalled from his season long loan to LOSC, having earned a permanent move from the French club to Anfield in the summer, and he has since given two interviews suggesting it could be a possibility.
The first, after Belgium’s 3-1 victory over Iceland, can be watched above. As with most post-game player interviews, he doesn’t say as much as you want him to.
Origi doesn’t fully commit to the idea of coming to Liverpool early in the video above, but a second interview with the Guardian offers Reds fans more concrete hope that their goalscoring hopes could be resolved.
“Maybe January, who knows?” said Origi.
“It is not me who makes the decisions but if the club choose to let me go in January I would go. I would like to join Liverpool then. I said that I would stay for the whole season and I wish to remain honourable in that, of course, but if there was a decision by the clubs, I would not say that I would not like to go to Liverpool in January.
“Brendan Rodgers is in contact regularly. That makes me feel very good and wanted. And although I agreed to stay with Lille until the end of this season, if there was a chance of joining Liverpool sooner I would take it.
“I would love to move to Liverpool sooner rather than later. I am here at Lille, it is fine, they are a good club and they have helped me. But it is also frustrating. It is French football. I can’t wait to be playing in the Premier League because I can now see that it will suit me better.”