Liverpool fans have been left reeling by consecutive gut-punch defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal, but good news out of northern France might momentarily lift some spirits. 19-year-old striker Divock Origi, who is on loan at Lille, put in a fantastic performance yesterday against Stade de Reims to continue his resurgence of form after a long goal drought soured the middle of his season.
After missing a first half penalty, Origi scored a classic poacher goal in the 47th minute. Midfielder Sofiane Boufal whipped in a free kick from the left that was accidentally misdirected toward the back post by Prince Oniangué, and Origi was perfectly positioned to pounce, easily knocking the ball into the net.
Then, in the 72nd minute, Origi showed his class once more with a splendid assist to secure the three points for Lille. Breaking down the right wing, Origi swerved an inch-perfect cross into the path of Nolan Roux who converted a diving header from close range.
Seriously, just look at this ball:
Origi's impending transition to the Premier League will be tough, but he has enough talent to bridge the gap with grace. The key for him is to become more consistent -- in the last year he has gone from World Cup shining star to out-of-form striker mired in the middle of the Ligue 1 table to can't miss prospect once more. Such volatility is common for a player that is still only 19, and hopefully he can settle into a more stable standard of play once he comes to Anfield.