“We just don’t know how good he is today" - Former coach on Liverpool forward

Former Belgium coach Gert Verheyen has recently been talking about Liverpool forward Divock Origi.

Origi played under Verheyen for Belgium U19s almost 10 years ago. Therefore, the 51-year-old knows the striker reasonably well.

Verheyen does not entirely understand why Origi would want to remain at Liverpool despite the fact that he rarely plays.

Back in the summer of 2014, the Reds signed Origi from Lille for a transfer fee of €12.63 million.

In the 26-year-old's seven years at the club, he has only made 164 appearances for the first-team.

“We just don’t know how good he is today. In his youth, Divock was a class act. But by staying with Liverpool and playing little, he hasn’t developed further,” Verheyen told Het Nieuwsblad.

“Can you blame him (for staying at Anfield)? That’s his choice. Liverpool must be a fantastic club to play for. But at some point you want to play, don’t you?

“I think it would be a shame for Origi’s talent. The only thing I never felt about Divock was the urge – the urge to score, a striker who says ‘I scored two, now I want three.’

“Not that he didn’t do his best. We played with the U19s in a dilapidated stadium in Serbia where you had to wash yourself in a tub of water, so to speak. Divock tried his best. But scoring more, wanting more? That he didn’t.

“Can he extend that to his career choices?”

ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

We can see where Verheyen is coming from. As we have already pointed out, Origi is only 26 years of age.

Therefore, the Belgium international should be playing regular senior football. Origi is missing out on his prime years.

However, the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota are ahead of the striker in the pecking order at Liverpool.

If Origi wants to fulfill his potential, he will have to depart Anfield. But, we don't know what the forward wants from his remaining years in the game. Only he can answer that.