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Origi 2.0: Anfield flop is unlikely to ever start for Liverpool again after Brighton - opinion

Liverpool are trying to get their season back on track. It's been a difficult one, and Arne Slot has been under heavy fire as his title-winning project has crumbled around him.

However, the Reds boss appears to be out of the deepest neck of the woods, steadying the ship over the past few months.

FSG are still fully behind the Dutch coach, who replaced the irreplaceable Jurgen Klopp in 2024 and led the Reds to their second Premier League title in five years.

But there's no question that the Anfield side have been poor this term, lacking answers, and more changes are bound to be afoot this summer if the head coach hopes to guide Liverpool back into the ascendancy.

The players Liverpool need to get rid of this summer

Liverpool's problems have stretched far and wide this season, and while he's enjoying something of a resurgence of late, Ibrahima Konate is out of contract at the end of the season and it might be wise to part ways.

Liverpool need new centre-backs, but Jeremy Jacquet has been signed and can supply Slot with that Konate-esque presence over the coming years.

Alexis Mac Allister is another of the club's biggest superstars to have fallen by the wayside, and given that he's only 26, the Argentina international may be sold to continue a much-needed freshen-up.

This one might be contentious, but Liverpool should also consider selling Mohamed Salah, with this coming summer the last chance FSG have to cash in on the greatest Liverpool player in recent history.

mohamed-salah-liverpool

That's not all. Despite emerging as Liverpool's new version of club icon Divock Origi this season, a much-loved Liverpool man needs to be sold.

Van-Dijk-Gravenberch-Liverpool-Konate-Wirz-Salah Related

Reds flop looks like he'll never play for Liverpool again after Sunderland

Arne Slot sent a message to some members of the Liverpool team by not selecting them on Wednesday.

Liverpool's new version of Origi

Chiesa is nothing if not passionate. The versatile forward's enthusiasm has endeared him to the Liverpool fanbase, but Slot has always been reluctant to hand the 28-year-old regular minutes in his title-chasing side.

Sadly, Chiesa is shaping up as Liverpool's new version of Origi. This is, of course, not a bad reputation for one to have, but the Belgium striker was unable to cement a consistent position at Klopp's spearhead, even though he has immortalised himself on Merseyside after many iconic moments.

In this, Chiesa is becoming the same type of player. It was him who netted off the bench as Liverpool scraped a winner on the opening day of the 2025/26 campaign against Bournemouth, but chances to impress thereafter have been few and far between.

FFC in-text wider Origi

There's no question about Chiesa's commitment. The Italian is tenacious and hard-working, and for this, he is bound to continue playing a substitute role when the Reds need an injection of pace and energy in the closing stages.

However, he's flattered to deceive for too long now, and that purple patch at the start of the campaign is looking like a false dawn.

He played from the opening as Liverpool progressed in the FA Cup, but it was a display that left a lot to be desired, and one which will give Slot plenty of food for thought as he weighs up whether to start him again going forward.

Federico Chiesa vs Brighton

Match Stats

Minutes played

Goals

Assists

Touches

Shots (on target)

Accurate passes

Chances created

Dribbles

Tackles

Duels won

Fouls

Data via Sofascore

The truth of the matter is that Chiesa is in no position to waste the opportunities that Slot hands to him, but he's struggling to turn show-stopping moments into sustained performances.

With that in mind, it's fair to say he's become the club's new version of Origi.

Divock Origi scores in the Champions League final

Divock Origi scores in the Champions League final

Of course, injuries have been unkind to the Premier League champions this season, and in this, we cannot say for sure that Chiesa will not start again, but with Salah playing his way back into form and Chiesa struggling for fluency in Liverpool's attack, it's looking more and more likely that he will sit on the sidelines before moving on this summer.

Dominik Szoboszlai scores for Liverpool Related

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