Arsenal legend Ian Wright has questioned the worth of Liverpool pair Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino by claiming the duo aren’t ‘helping’ the Reds.
Origi started in Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Aston Villa on Sunday but was removed on the hour for Roberto Firmino.
Both of Liverpool’s goals came following the Brazilian’s introduction and it was noticeable how much smoother the Reds looked in attack with Firmino at its point.
Minamino was signed for £7m from RB Salzburg in January but the Japanese is yet to open his account for the club and is yet to have the impact that many supporters were predicting following his arrival.
While Liverpool are on course to break the tally for record league points this term, question marks have been raised in some quarters over the club’s ability to replace the likes of Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah if the star duo were to pick up an injury.
And Wright believes that Sunday’s performance against Villa showed that Liverpool’s back-up players like Origi and Minamino are not up to it, with the former Arsenal ace claiming they’re ‘not actually helping’ the team.
‘What I’ve been looking as is next season, with what they’re [Liverpool] trying to do and who they’re trying to bring in’ Wright told Premier League Productions.
‘Will Origi be there? Will Minamino be there? When you look at Origi today and what I’ve seen of Minamino up to this point you have to worry for them a little bit.
‘The way Liverpool are playing at the moment they’re looking as sharp as they can be up to a certain point [against Villa].
‘They’re trying to get Salah into the game, Mane’s still doing his stuff but when you look at the Origi factor – where Firmino is meant to be – it’s just not happening. They don’t get the ball into an area where you’re supposed to get someone like Firmino.’
It was a rare start for Origi and the Belgian wouldn’t be the first player to look rusty after three months without Premier League football.
However, Wright believes there’s an underlying issue with the forward that makes him too comfortable with playing back-up to Firmino, which means he won’t provide the Brazilian with competition.
‘This is what worries me about him,’ continued Wright.
‘He seems to me that is someone that’s quite satisfied to come off the bench and get a goal like he did against Barcelona and the Champions League Final.
‘He’s in the hearts and minds of Liverpool fans but he’s not a actually helping them and from what I’ve seen of Minamino he’s not helping them either.’
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