Origi scored six goals against Everton and became an eternal idol at Liverpool
Few players in Liverpool’s recent history have built a legacy so disproportionate to their time on the pitch. Divock Origi, the Belgian striker who wore the Reds’ shirt for seven years, was not an outright starter – but he was decisive when it mattered most. And that, in football, is worth more than any string of forgettable good performances.
The man of impossible moments
Origi arrived at Anfield in 2014, signed from Lille, but spent one more season on loan at the French club before reporting for good to Jürgen Klopp. In his first two years with an effective squad presence, he reached double digits in goals each season. Then came a period in the shadows. For many, it would be the end of the story.
It wasn’t. In December 2018, the Belgian appeared in second-half stoppage time, in the 96th minute, to bury Everton in a derby that seemed to be heading for a draw. A scrappy goal, improvised and brilliant at the same time. That goal was like a spark: from then on, Origi would live his most memorable months at the club.
Barcelona, Tottenham and the night no one forgets
A few months later, in May 2019, Liverpool needed to overturn a 3-0 deficit at home to get past Barcelona in the Champions League semifinal. Origi opened the scoring. And closed it. In between, Georginio Wijnaldum completed the turnaround with two goals. The final 4-0 lodged itself in football’s collective memory as one of the greatest comebacks in the competition’s history.
The cherry was served in Madrid. In the final against Tottenham, he finished coolly from the left to seal the win and hand Liverpool the sixth European title in their history. It was June 1, 2019. Origi had scored the goal that closed out the Champions League.
Luxury substitute, a collection of titles
The number is revealing: 61% of his appearances for the club came off the bench. Even so, he amassed enough titles to fill any shelf – Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. He featured in 28 matches in the season Liverpool lifted the English trophy.
His final goals in the red shirt lived up to the reputation he had built: a comeback goal in stoppage time against Wolverhampton, the decisive goal at the San Siro against AC Milan, and one more against Everton to settle the accounts. Always him. Always at the right moment. “I’m very happy to have been able to play my part at this incredible club,” he said as he bid farewell.
If there were a popular vote for the greatest cult idol in Anfield’s recent history, Origi would probably win. Or come very close.
