How the return of Divock Origi was greater than that of Liverpool against Barcelona

Liverpool and the Champions League have become synonymous of return.

But rarely did the collective and the individual badociate in such a devastating way as May 7, a date now forever inscribed in the annals of history. ; Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp's team did not only make up for the 3-0 deficit in the first leg against Barcelona to win 4-0 and reach their second consecutive UEFA Cup final.

It was all the more remarkable to know who was at the center of the drama, scoring the decisive goal at eleven minutes of time before the delusional Kop.

Divock Origi is the returning kid, the striker who pulled his Liverpool career out of the canvas to win a new long-term contract and a clear spot in Klopp's future.

By signing a new contract Wednesday – his previous contract had come in the last 12 months – the 24-year-old finished a turnaround that few people had seen arriving six months earlier.

Origi, to put it bluntly, was nowhere, not even part of a team until October before having the impression of leaving the previous summer.

It should be remembered how the Belgian reached this last point.

Signed in 2014 by Brendan Rodgers for £ 10 million in Lille, then sent back to France for a loan of the season, he had played only four appearances before Rodgers was rewarded and Klopp took it. Control.

A hat-trick in the League Cup in Southampton in December 2015 – his first goals for the club – allowed him to start his career in Liverpool. He became an important part of the race at the Europa League final before a serious ankle injury occurred during a challenge to the red card. from Ramiro Funes Mori from Everton.

Origi was summoned to the Basel gem, playing the last 21 minutes of the 3-1 defeat to Sevilla, but a posteriori, that was a mistake.

The striker featured in all Liverpool's play selections the following season and replaced Sadio Mane, injured, in recent weeks.

Origi, however, was not quite the same player. And this became evident during the next campaign, with a loan of a season in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg, where the relegation was only slightly avoided, thanks in part to a goal from and his badistance during the playoffs.

Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah after joining Roberto Firmino and Mane at the top of the standings, finished second in the Champions League and Origi looked on the road for good.

In the end, however, a move did not take place. Origi dropped his head, worked hard, but did not even participate in a matchday until October and only appeared after a defeat in the Champions League defeat against the Red Star Belgrade in November.

It was then that the fate of the Belgian was so desperately needed when Jordan Pickford's indecision allowed him to poach an unlikely winner of the Anfield derby against Everton in December.

An instant cult hero, yes, but still not a regular, presenting only three of the next 10 games.

But with his attitude and his impressive progress for Klopp, opportunities arose and Origi became a man for the big moment: his last winner at Newcastle United, the double against Barcelona a few days later and, of course, his goal that sealed the Champions League. final victory over Tottenham Hotspur last month.

Klopp has always remembered the player he had inherited nearly four years ago, the one who had led the line impressively in the quarter-finals of the Europa League against Borussia Dortmund and scored both legs.

And he 's always remembered how far that injury in the derby had made Origi' s career go further than anyone could have expected at the time.

Bayer Leverkusen, Sevilla, Roma and Wolverhampton Wanderers have shown interest in last season's striker, showing that his stock has increased. A substitute, although next year Liverpool agreed to let Origi end his contract, would not have cost much.

And if Klopp was pleased that the player signed a new deal, so were the sports directors Michael Edwards and Mike Gordon, director of Liverpool and president of the Fenway Sports Group.

The two men formed bonds with Origi and his family and were the biggest defenders of the player at the time of the skinny. Edwards, in particular, would have always been convinced that the Belgian had a role to play in the future of Liverpool.

Origi knows that it will not be easy to dislodge the third group established by Klopp. But with Liverpool on many fronts, the odds will be there.

And after getting away from the edge, the attacker knows better than anyone that anything is possible. No matter what.