Jurgen Klopp says Divock Origi‘s injury is serious, but hasn’t ruled out a return this season, insisting he’ll give him every chance to return.
The 21-year-old underwent a scan on Thursday and the results seem to have confirmed Liverpool’s worst fears, with the in-form forward likely out for between four to six weeks.
If so, he’d definitely miss the Europa League semi-final ties against Villarreal, along with the final five Premier League games. He could though perhaps return should the Reds reach the Europa League final.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, previewing Liverpool’s clash with Newcastle on Saturday, Klopp described Origi’s injury as “serious,” but remained optimistic that the striker could return before the end of the season.
“I don’t want to really answer. I can, of course: it’s an injury, it’s serious. We’ll try everything.
“[But] the season is not over without taking a risk with the player
“I’m long enough in this business to know we’re all different. We don’t have to make any general [diagnosis].
“We have to work with him, and see what happens—the same with Emre Can. We’re all individuals.
“A long time ago I had an ACL, and played after four months. Nobody believed it but I had no problems.
“We can’t say now the season is over for him.”
Along with missing Liverpool’s crucial run-in, Origi will also face a race against time to be fit for Belgium for the European Championships this summer—a similar fate to Can with Germany.
Origi suffered the injury shortly after half-time at Anfield on Wednesday, with Funes Mori’s horror tackle resulting in a red card for the Everton defender.
Funes Mori issued an apology to Origi on Thursday, claiming it was never his intention to hurt the Liverpool striker.
Origi was enjoying a surge in form in recent weeks, having scored five goals in his last five appearances for the Reds.
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