The Kopite View

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has a few injury concerns ahead of his team’s fixture against Burnley at Anfield tomorrow, Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge have both been ruled out, while Dejan Lovren has just recovered from a knee injury and is not guaranteed to start.

But possibly Klopp’s biggest injury concern is the news that Roberto Firmino is struggling to be fit.

With limited options in attack, it looks like Klopp will give Divock Origi an opportunity to prove his worth if Firmino is ruled out.

Origi has been inconsistent this season despite featuring in 32 games this season, the Belgian has scored 8 times and is Liverpool’s third highest goalscorer this season.

But Origi hasn’t shown enough this season and most of his appearances have been cameo roles as a substitute.

Origi showed what he is capable of in last weekend’s 3-1 win over Arsenal when he made an impact coming off the bench in the latter stages.

The Belgian international was unlucky not to score with a headed effort that came off the post before producing a tremendous pass that resulted in Wijnaldum scoring Liverpool’s third and game-winning goal.

Origi will be desperate to start after spending so much time on the bench this season, and this could be the opportunity he needs to prove to Klopp that he should be playing up front instead of Firmino who is being used as a makeshift striker.

There is much speculation regarding the future of Liverpool midfielder Emre Can, the German international has just over a year left on his contract and although the club have offered him a new deal, Can’s agent is believed to be asking for double his current salary of £35,000 per week.

Agents are making it more and more difficult for clubs, and can use the offer of new contracts to bargain with other clubs for a potential move that could happen in Can’s case.

It is difficult to justify such a pay rise that Can’s agent is hoping for considering the player has struggled to feature in Liverpool’s midfield this season, but there is no doubting he has tremendous ability and with his versatility and only being 23-years-of-age, he has time to still improve his game.

Many supporters think that it’s time to move Can on because he has not kicked on from last season or showed the form of last term.

I hope Liverpool sort out a deal for the German because I think he has a lot to offer, and it wasn’t so long ago that he was one of our most important players, but injuries at the start of this season, and losing his place to Gini Wijnaldum have not helped his progress.

Last Saturday’s win over Arsenal was a reminder of what Can gives to the team, his physicality and work rate were influential in Liverpool’s midfield, and his will to get stuck in and make a few tackles is something Liverpool need in their midfield.

Although Can has had a difficult season, I would like to see him stay at Anfield, and I hope the club can agree on a new contract even if they have to double his wages, because £70,000 per week is not astronomical considering the new contracts that Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho have recently signed.