MX23RW : Friday, May 3 00:42:27| >> :120:7574:7574:
[monks data]
Attendance: 55,212
Liverpool logo
Champions League | Semi-Finals
May 7, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

4-0

Origi (7', 79'), Wijnaldum (54', 56')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Divock Origi: 'Anything can happen in title race'

Divock Origi: 'Anything can happen in title race'
© Reuters
The Belgian followed up his late winner against Newcastle with a brace to help stun Barcelona.

Striker Divock Origi has played a pivotal, if limited, role in Liverpool's season and, after the drama of a Champions League win over Barcelona, he is not ruling out one more twist in the title race.

The Belgium striker has scored just six goals this season, but four of them have been vital: December's 96th-minute Merseyside derby decider, the 86th-minute winner at Newcastle on Saturday and two in the 4-0 demolition of Barca to help book a second successive final appearance.

Boosted by turning around a 3-0 first-leg deficit against the favourites, Liverpool now head into Sunday's Premier League season finale hoping Brighton can do them a favour by taking points off Manchester City to pave the way for Jurgen Klopp's side to snatch the title with a win at home to Wolves.

Hardly anyone will give 17th-placed Brighton a chance against Pep Guardiola's leaders, who are one point ahead of Liverpool, but then very few thought such a turnaround was possible against Barcelona.

"I think we are in a good moment, but we have to stay focused," said Origi, who was only in the team on Tuesday night because of injury to Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.

"It is not finished yet. We are qualified for the final, but now we have another game this weekend against Wolves.

"It is going to be very difficult (to win the title), but anything can happen.

"We just have to enjoy it like we did against Barcelona, there's nothing more we can do, and at the end of the day focus on being the best we can."

Origi's season has taken a distinct turn for the better in the last five months.

Prior to his match-winning substitute appearance against Everton on December 2, the 24-year-old had played just 11 minutes after coming off the bench in the Champions League defeat at Red Star Belgrade.

Divock Origi has contributed some key goals in Liverpool's season, including a last-gasp winner against Everton
Divock Origi has contributed some key goals in Liverpool's season, including a last-gasp winner against Everton (Peter Byrne/PA).

Having spent the previous season on loan at Wolfsburg, which began promisingly with four goals in his first 10 matches but tailed off after Christmas, his future at the club was in serious doubt.

However, Origi has stuck to his task and he has got his rewards in the last couple of games, none more so than with a starring role against Barcelona in probably the greatest European game Anfield has witnessed.

"First of all, me being a believing Christian, I always have hope," added the striker.

"Second, when you look at the team we have a mixture of talent and just hard work and with the fans you knew it would be a special night.

"It wasn't going to be easy, we didn't have any guarantees and had to be brave and take a lot of risks.

"In the end winning 4-0 is something you still have to digest, but we do realise it was a special night and are going to the final."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Carl Markham, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '2b7df75a-dee1-47c1-b54b-a55f6283971f');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Liverpool\u2019s Champions League hero Origi counting on one more twist in title race'});

ID:358621: cacheID:358621:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:15164:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jordan Henderson in action for Liverpool on April 5, 2019
Read Next:
My desire to defy the critics will never disappear, says Henderson
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
12pm
Fritz
Rublev
7pm
Auger-Aliassime
Lehecka
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QBayern651016
QCopenhagen62228
3Galatasaray61235
4Man Utd61144

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QArsenal641113
QPSV62319
3Lens62228
4Sevilla60242

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Madrid660018
QNapoli631210
3Braga61144
4Union Berlin60242

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Sociedad633012
QInter Milan633012
3Benfica61144
4Salzburg61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtletico642014
QLazio631210
3Feyenoord62046
4Celtic61144

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QDortmund632111
QPSG62228
3AC Milan62228
4Newcastle61235

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QMan City660018
QRB Leipzig640212
3Young Boys61144
4Red Star60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QBarcelona640212
QPorto640212
3Shakhtar63039
4Antwerp61053


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!