Origi savours special derby day as he looks to kick on with Liverpool

LIVERPOOL’S Merseyside derby hero Divock Origi admits his added-time winner was one of the most crucial he has scored for the club.

The Belgium international, making his first appearance at Anfield since May 2017 after spending last season on loan at Wolfsburg, capitalised on Jordan Pickford’s error to nod home from close range for a 1-0 victory.

He said: “It was special. Always in a derby it is a good feeling to win, especially to keep our stride going and to score the goal is special. I’m happy.”

Prior to his 84th-minute entrance on Sunday, Origi had played just 11 minutes for Liverpool this season in one substitute appearance during the 2-0 Champions League defeat in Serbia against Red Star Belgrade.

After his disappointing loan spell in the Bundesliga, it ap- peared his chances would be limited, and he could have left the club in the summer but Liverpool received no acceptable offers.

However, he has tried not to let that affect him and his reward came by writing his name into derby-day history.

“I just try to focus on what I can control and that was just training well and shining my light,” he added.

“I knew the rest I couldn’t control so whatever minutes I got, I just tried to make the most of it and thank God it turned out well.

“I just to try to play my game, whatever role it is. It’s on the pitch you have to do your talking and it is the coach who makes the decisions, so the best I can do is show my best form.”

Origi looked like he had missed his chance to score the winner when he blazed a shot against the crossbar from Virgil van Dijk’s downward header minutes earlier.

The Holland defender made a point of telling Origi he should have done better, and when the frame of the goal came to his aid moments later he did not make the same mistake.

Van Dijk’s horribly-sliced attempt led to Pickford’s error, but the Dutchman, who turned away in disgust as the ball looped up, will not be claiming an assist.

“If you look at the footage I thought ‘What am I doing?’ first,” said Van Dijk. “I’m a defender, so sometimes you need to to think a little bit more as a striker when you are up there.

“But in the end it was fantastic that it goes in like that. I think he should have scored the one before when I headed it to him.

“I told him but, you know, it’s a special feeling to win the derby in the last minute.”

The win was vital to keep pace with Man City who, after their midweek trip to Watford, head to Chelsea on Saturday, but Van Dijk insists they are not worrying about Pep Guardiola’s side.

“We need to look at ourselves. We have no need to look at Man City,” he added. Last-gasp: Divock Origi scored winner for Liverpool