Jurgen Klopp says that last season’s 4-0 pummelling of Everton was hard to enjoy because of what Ramiro Funes Mori did to Divock Origi…
The Argentine centre-back, who’s actually unavailable injured for tomorrow’s clash, scythed down our young Belgian when he was in terrific form and effectively ended his season – earning a red-card in the process.
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We humiliated Everton that night, racking up over 40 shots on goal in what’s undeniably the most one-sided Merseyside Derby in Premier League history.
In truth, Origi hasn’t been the same since, enduring a difficult second campaign under Klopp in which he’s struggled to maximise his pace and finishing.
“A few things can disturb the joy of victory,” Liverpool’s boss told a press-conference at Melwood today, cited in the Echo. “Take last time, we had a good victory but after the game I found out that Divock Origi would be out for a key time.
“I knew that would hurt us more than the three points would help us.”
With Adam Lallana, Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson all out, Origi has a chance of starting at Anfield in a front three that could include Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, with Coutinho dropped deeper.
It’s a bold potential plan, but one that gets our most dangerous players on the pitch.
We’ve struggled a lot during early kick-offs under Klopp, but it’s essential that this time we come out of the blocks quickly.
The atmosphere and pace of the game will both be frenetic.