Klopp calls Origi a 'Liverpool legend', reveals why striker did not leave club in summer

Plenty of eyebrows were raised by Liverpool fans last night when Jurgen Klopp decided to give a start to Divock Origi in a big Champions League game.

Speaking after the game, Klopp told the media (via Liverpoolfc.com): "Divock is a great guy, that’s how it is, and in 10 years’ time when we look back he will be a Liverpool legend, but he is too young to be already seen as a legend now so he has to play football.

"To be 100 per cent honest, of course, I thought he would maybe leave in the summer, but the football world is a crazy place and people obviously forgot how good he is.

"I said it, it is really difficult to get into this team. That’s just how it is and I have to decide about different positions, who I bring on, how I want to react before a game. That’s why Div was not in, he did nothing wrong.

"He trains, he gives everything and sometimes you still don’t make it into the squad. That really can happen, especially when everybody is fit. But for tonight he was the right player to do it and he did really well.

"He was not injured, he had cramps, that’s normal and so now let’s see. It’s just nice, I’m really happy I could give him the opportunity and that he used it like he did."

Origi was rumoured to leave the Reds this summer but as Klopp confirms, no good offer came for him and now that he has remained here, it only seems fair to use him in a few games.

The striker was subbed off before the end of the game but there's no major cause of concern here as he just had cramps.