Sunday 11 December 2016 15:32, UK
Defensive frailties cost Liverpool against Bournemouth but they have encouraging options at the other end of the pitch. Ahead of their Nissan Super Sunday clash with West Ham, we look at how Divock Origi can help them cope without the injured Philippe Coutinho…
Liverpool's remarkable 4-3 defeat to Bournemouth was the fourth time they have been two goals up and failed to win a Premier League game under Jurgen Klopp. Just when it seemed they had turned a corner, it was a depressing setback to undermine their Premier League title credentials.
Klopp's challenge is to ensure defensive capitulation does not creep back into Liverpool's game on a regular basis, but events on the south coast took the attention away from a separate issue. Philippe Coutinho is expected to miss at least five more Premier League games with ankle ligament damage. His absence is another conundrum.
Coutinho has been one of the Premier League's top performers this season. With five goals and five assists, only Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez have been more influential in front of goal. His outstanding form was recognised when he was named the 2016 Football Supporters' Federation Player of the Year on Tuesday.
Operating on the left-hand side of Liverpool's electrifying attack, Coutinho has been the inspiration behind their title challenge. There have been spectacular individual goals and match-winning moments of invention, and the stats highlight the extent of his influence. From goals scored to successful dribbles, he ranks either first or second in every attacking discipline.
Liverpool supporters held their breath when he crumpled to the turf during last month's 2-0 win over Sunderland. The five to six-week prognosis was not as bad as first feared, but it's easy to understand the apprehension. Adam Lallana has described him as a "massive loss", while Klopp admits "every team in the world" would feel his absence.
But Liverpool do have options. Klopp turned to Divock Origi after Coutinho's early withdrawal against Sunderland, and the 21-year-old made the most of his chance. He took up the central striking role, with Roberto Firmino switching to the left, and duly scored the breakthrough goal, side-stepping Duncan Watmore and curling an angled shot beyond the outstretched Jordan Pickford.
It was a fine strike, and Klopp made special mention of Origi's patience and perseverance after the game. "Divock is still 21 and he hasn't had the most match time in the last few months, so then he had no rhythm, but he is always working, never moaning," he said.
Origi netted another decisive goal against Leeds in the EFL Cup, and his scoring streak continued against Bournemouth when he outpaced Artur Boruc and expertly clipped the ball into the empty net from an acute angle. A defensive meltdown followed, but Liverpool's attack functioned effectively for long periods despite Coutinho's absence.
That was largely thanks to Origi. The youngster has had a clear run into the team thanks to Daniel Sturridge's latest injury setback, but there is growing evidence to suggest he may have jumped above his more experienced team-mate in Klopp's pecking order.
Origi's goal was only his seventh in the Premier League since the start of last season, but his strike rate is actually one of the best in the division. The former Lille man averages a goal every 131 minutes. It puts him above the likes of Costa and Sanchez, and behind only Kelechi Iheanacho, Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane.
And while there are question marks over Sturridge's suitability to Klopp's high-intensity pressing system, Origi has few problems fitting in. Premier League tracking data showed he made more sprints than any other player against Bournemouth (77), and he also clocked the highest top speed (34.31km/h). He's getting the job done both with and without the ball.
Firmino has found it difficult to replicate Coutinho's level of productivity since moving to the left flank, but Origi's impact is not the only cause for optimism. Liverpool can call on Adam Lallana again after his return from injury, Sadio Mane rediscovered his form with a goal and an assist against Bournemouth, and Sturridge will also be eager to show his worth when he returns to action.
With that in mind, Klopp can be confident that Liverpool have enough attacking firepower to cope without their star man. A potentially tricky run of games begins with Sunday's clash against West Ham at Anfield, but after their capitulation against Bournemouth, it seems the bigger issues lie at the other end of the pitch.
