Liverpool Champions League hero stuck in the reserves after two years of struggle

Only once before had Liverpool won the final of the Champions League, née European Cup, by two clear goals. That changed in May 2019 when Divock Origi found the corner of the net inside the Metropolitano as the Reds triumphed 2-0 over Tottenham.

The attacker started just 68 of his 175 matches for Liverpool yet ranks among the likes of Steven Gerrard and Sir Kenny Dalglish for the amount of pivotal goals he scored. Borussia Dortmund, Everton, Barcelona - all teams against whom he wrote himself into Anfield folklore.

Origi was given a fond farewell when he was released upon the end of his contract in 2022, having scored 41 goals and lifted every piece of silverware there was to win at Liverpool. He will look back at the years since his exit with a feeling of anything but fondness.

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If the 29-year-old was hoping to be a regular for his new club Milan, he would be left sorely disappointed. Out of his 27 league games in his maiden season at the San Siro, he began just 10 times.

Sure, the Belgian suffered the odd injury but none were significant and lasted more than a month. Two goals and one assist was not the kind of return he or his club had hoped for.

Despite his waning form, Milan icon and club director Paolo Maldini spoke an appraisal of the striker, insisting: “Origi has everything to be a great footballer. He has physique, technique, speed, shooting, right, left. Watching him in training, we know what he can do."

However, Maldini was forced out of the club that summer and Origi was consequently loaned back to the Premier League to search for form and confidence at Nottingham Forest last season. But amidst a packed squad clamouring for game time, just six Premier League starts were offered.

Origi’s last league start came in March and he failed to score in any of his 20 outings, his sole goal coming in one of two FA Cup matches. He was left on the bench under Nuno Espirito Santo for the final four games of the season.

And things took a sharp nosedive for Origi when he returned to Milan this summer. Speaking in July, Milan senior advisor and former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic revealed he would be exiled from the senior squad.

He brutally explained: "Divock Origi and [Senegalese defender] Fodé Ballo-Toure are not part of our plans. They will be part of the youth team [in Serie C] as they’re not included in our project."

Origi has not played a single minute this campaign as a result, not even as an over-age player for the youth side. His banishment also means he will not feature in the first-team’s Champions League clash with Liverpool on Tuesday.

Reports from Italy state the striker - contracted until 2026 - is currently training alone with an absence of transfer interest from outside clubs.

It has been reported that Milan are willing to terminate his contract to allow a free exit. Whatever happens next, this is truly a sombre career chapter for one of Liverpool’s cult heroes.