Liverpool are currently facing major Divock Origi decision as transfer change becomes clear
Liverpool striker Divock Origi has fallen down the pecking order under Jurgen Klopp this season.
The Belgium international probably, may have feared his days could be up at Liverpool the minute he didn't saw his number on the electronic board of the fourth official at Ajax.
Jurgen Klopp decided it was time to completely overhaul his strikeforce during the champions' night and off came starting trio of Sadio Mane Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino but in their place, there arrived Diogo Jota, Takumi Minamino and Xherdan Shaqiri while Origi was left kicking his heels in the stands, awaiting an opportunity that never arrived.
It was the second sign in a few weeks the Belgian had slipped down the pecking order at Anfield, having only been on the bench for the Carabao Cup tie against Arsenal.
When he was introduced, Origi went on to miss in the penalty shoot-out as the Reds slipped out of the competition.
From being the first reserve to the front three towards the end of the 2018/19 season - and how the 25-year-old revelled in that role in the Champions League in particular - Origi is now possibly seventh in line.
Indeed, having featured in 28 Premier League games last season, he has yet to play a minute this term and wasn't one the bench for the last two top-flight games - the first time that has happened since November 2018.
Sure, there will be opportunities in the coming weeks. He started - scoring one goal and assisting another - in the 7-2 Carabao Cup win at Lincoln City, and was a beneficiary of the decision to rest the front three to the bench for the Champions League visit of FC Midtjylland on Tuesday.
Origi, though, didn't take his chance. It didn't help that he was caught by two heavy challenges while his lack of minutes was seen as a contributory factor.
"In terms of individual performances, Div hadn’t played for a while and did absolutely okay," Klopp said about the Belgian after the game.
It is clear Jota and Minamino, both arrivals this year, have nudged ahead of Origi, while the re-emergence of Shaqiri is further competition for a place, although the two starts for the Swiss this season have been in midfield.
There is another reason for Origi to be concerned.
He wasn't selected for Belgium for September's internationals and didn't play a minute when called up earlier this month.
With Roberto Martinez's side among the favourites at next summer's European Championships, Origi will want to be involved.
Which is why reports claiming Club Brugge are pondering a loan move for the forward in January should not be dismissed, such a move making sense for all parties concerned.
Origi has already salvaged his Liverpool career once. It could be time for the Belgian to do it all over again.
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