Jurgen Klopp’s opinion as Sadio Mane snubs Mohamed Salah top Liverpool’s finisher

Sadio Mane claimed Divock Origi was Liverpool’s top finisher during his time at the club – and Reds boss Jurgen Klopp made a similar claim ahead of Origi’s move to AC Milan.

Sadio Mane certainly raised his eyebrows when he claimed earlier this week that Mohamed Salah was not the best finisher he had played with at Liverpool.

That award instead went to Divock Origi: the former Reds striker who scored some of the biggest goals in the club’s recent history.

During his career at Anfield, Origi was mainly the understudy for Mane, Salah and Roberto Firmino. Still, the Belgium international managed to earn cult hero status on Merseyside as he loved to impress on the bench.

While Mane’s claim that Origi is Liverpool’s best finisher may have surprised some people this week, Jurgen Klopp expressed similar sentiments ahead of Origi’s departure from Anfield last year. After Origi scored against Everton during the 2021/22 season, Klopp said: “He [Origi] is a legend on and off the pitch. Fantastic footballer, a world-class striker and our best finisher. Anyone would say the same”. You see him in training, it’s a very difficult decision to get him out. Everyone here loves Divock.”

Although Origi has sacked crucial goals for Liverpool in both the Premier League and Champions League – including his own goal in the 2019 final against Tottenham Hotspur – the 27-year-old has always been keen to continue at the end of his contract in a bid to secure his contract. regular football elsewhere.

Italian giant AC Milan pounced on Origi’s summer services; however, the striker has been flattered to deceive so far during his spell with the reigning Serie A champions.

Origi had the shame of being named Serie A’s worst signing at the start of the season, scoring just twice in 21 appearances for Stefano Pioli’s side.

Curiously, Liverpool have also fallen short of expectations this season, although their difficulties have to do with the departure of Mane rather than Origi’s absence.

The former Southampton player moved to Bayern Munich in the summer in a £35m deal after expressing his desire for a new challenge. Speaking about Mane in October, Klopp admitted he had lost his former talisman but was adamant Liverpool would adjust to life without him. He told Sky Germany: “A good guy and a great player. But if I miss him, it seems like I still want him [Mane] here.

“I think it’s really cool that Sadio just wanted to do something different. Absolutely. I totally respect that. The path was great. We knew he would do something different without seriously breaking up. It should be possible in life.

“That’s exactly what happened. Miss? Yes! But I’m also happy. That he is where he wanted to be. Here we solve our problems. Sadio is an exceptional player. Everyone in Munich saw it too. It is absolutely world class. Everything will be OK.”