05 Divock Origi

Origi

Upfront with Divock Origi

The young LFC striking ace tells Official Members about the Klopp effect, the Euros this summer and that hat-trick at Southampton

Klopp

How have you found working with Jürgen Klopp and his backroom team?

The manager sends a lot of positive energy to everyone. He likes to work with everybody and help them make progress and he has a clear plan. When you have a coach like this it means you have a leader who sends energy to the group and we try to react for him in every way. I think it will be a good partnership for him and for Liverpool. I heard that he had said he'd been interested in signing me when he was at Borussia Dortmund so that showed that he knew of me and is aware of my qualities. That was nice to hear but eventually it is down to me to show what I can do on the pitch and I have to focus on that. Everybody at the club believes in me so I have to work hard and try to maximise every moment of playing time I get.



You've played as the main striker and in behind – what's your favoured role?

Versatility is one of my qualities so I can play as one of two strikers, three strikers, on the wing or upfront as the main forward. When you are upfront you are closer to the goal and can potentially score more often so I would say I prefer this position. But I am young and I will play wherever the coach needs me. One of my attributes is that I can carry the ball and take on defenders in one-on-ones with my pace. I still have a lot of things that I can show to the fans here.



versus Spurs

You are a keen advocate of video analysis?

I believe it is important to improve every day and here at Liverpool we have an analysis team who can help you all the time. I try to use what I see of my own performances but also examine what other strikers have in their game and learn from their experiences. I know that if I can add to my qualities, that can add up to me having a good performance. At Melwood you have everything you could want to succeed. There is a good staff who can assist you, you can do extra training, you can study video analysis. Outside of the football itself we have great fitness coaches and dieticians so everything is in place to help you become a good player.



versus Southampton

Scoring a hat-trick in a League Cup quarter-final wasn't a bad way to break your duck for Liverpool FC…

It’s good to be in a team like this and I think I’ll have my chances, so I am very excited. The thing for me was to come here, learn and progress. It wasn’t easy to come to a new country, a new system and a new type of football, but I’ve adapted and I’m ready to feature in games. I'd say the second goal [against Southampton] was my favourite because that’s my quality: to get behind defenders and score goals. I was also very pleased with the third one because I’ve worked a lot on scoring typical striker's goals in training, so to be able to score a header like that was very good and I’m happy my work paid off.



Your father Mike won more than 100 caps for Kenya – is he a big influence?

He loves football so he comes and watches the games at Anfield when he can and I am lucky that he also played football. He keeps his distance and allows me to find my own way and understands that I am a footballer too. The most important view is always the coach's, but he is always there to support me too. He won the league in Belgium in 1999 [with Racing Genk] so he has experience and a winning mentality and tries to help me whenever possible.



Training

You must be looking forward to the European Championship finals in the summer…

It would be a nice experience to go to France, especially as I have played club football there. I have already been to Brazil for a World Cup and it's special to play in major tournaments like this. We have a great team so these are exciting times for the Belgian game. There is always a good atmosphere around the national team group whenever we go away. I feel good there and so it would be nice if I can be a part of that squad next.