Origi: “We Can Surprise People This Year”

Only days away from kicking off another Premier League season, rising star striker Divock Origi says that he is convinced Liverpool can surprise people this year and maybe even challenge for top honours. It’s a heady goal, and one that will require the club to get off to a flying start.

Having spent pre-season focused on fitness and three-a-day training sessions, though, it just might be that this Liverpool side will have an early edge on their league competition. And, with the right results early to build momentum, anything is possible. Or at least that’s how it can seem in August.

“We want to achieve the highest [targets] possible,” the 21-year-old Belgian striker told the club’s official website this week. “It’s never east but we have to stick together as a team and a club. We know there will be good moments; moments that will be more difficult.

“But eventually, if we stick together—if we have the same plan, the same hunger, and if every teammate tried to help each other—I think we will stand very strong. Everything is there to do great things, so we always have to keep pushing until the end and if we do I’m convinced we can surprise people this year.”

After an impressive second half to the 2015-16 season, Origi has impressed in pre-season, making a difference for Liverpool any time he’s been on the pitch. His pace, power, and movement has been sharp, and his ability to run the channels has consistently stretched opposition defences.

It’s a different skill-set than the one brought to the pitch by Daniel Sturridge, or by stand-in striker Roberto Firmino, and it’s one that could help to exploit an injury-plagued Arsenal defence on the weekend. Whether he starts or not, though, Origi says he just wants to help the team win.

“I’m feeling very good,” he added. “I’m feeling sharp, I’m working very hard and I’m learning every day. I feel ready to start the season, whatever comes, and I have to stay fit and stay focused. I’m feeling good at this club and feeling good in this group.

“Every moment, day by day, I just try to maximise everything; if it’s training, if it’s recovery or game time, or opportunities to score. If you can do this, you reach big things, so that’s my goal this year: to be top on every level.”