Rio Ferdinand compares Divock Origi to two Man Utd heroes after Liverpool win

Rio Ferdinand likened Divock Origi to two Manchester United heroes after the striker helped Liverpool beat AC Milan in their final Champions League group game.

Liverpool’s perfect European record appeared to be under threat after England defender Fikayo Tomori put Milan ahead on 28 minutes.

But the Reds were level just eight minutes later – Mohamed Salah continuing his brilliant campaign with another goal – and Origi scored the winner after half-time.

Origi rarely starts for Liverpool but also popped up with a crucial goal in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Wolves, and Ferdinand says his role is similar to that of former Manchester United stars Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Javier Hernandez.

‘Divock Origi is not disheartened when he misses one, he keeps going again and again,’ Ferdinand told BT Sport.

‘I’ve played with Chicharito [Hernandez] and Solskjaer and the players love them, you need people to come off the bench and have an impact and Origi does that.

‘Within the club I know the players appreciate Origi. He’s decisive when he comes on, he gets the temperature of the game straight away. With him there seems to be a big shout for an Anfield statue outside!’

Former Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch also hailed Origi after the Reds beat AC Milan to become the first English side to win all six of their Champions League group matches.

‘It takes someone different to hang around and play second fiddle, Origi has come up trumps again in the San Siro,’ he said.

‘It’s a fantastic header too, neck muscles, the power and the angle it arrives at, it was a tremendous finish.

‘It is difficult to keep yourself focused, he could have moved to a mid table club but he is playing at Liverpool on the biggest stage.’

Liverpool manager Klopp, meanwhile, insisted he ‘could not be more proud’ of his side following their hard-fought victory in Italy.

He said: ‘Very proud. Especially because of the sixth game to be honest. We chose that line-up because we wanted to win the game. We needed fresh legs.

‘We needed desire to play this game which is difficult in this hectic schedule to always be on fire for the next game.

‘What the boys did tonight I could not be more proud. It was an incredible game. I am so happy. The performance was outstanding.

‘Having 21 shots, so many situations where we played outstandingly well and defended passionately and well organised.’

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