Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has admitted that he is desperate to sign a new striker during this January transfer window and he should consider going back to his old club in order to snaffle a forward.
Hodgson's former employers Liverpool currently boast an embarrassment of riches in the attacking third of the field as the Premier League leaders can call upon Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino at a first choice front-three, while Daniel Sturridge provides back-up.
Sturridge is entering the final six months of his contract with the Reds and the 29-year-old could well be looking for a new club come the summer, although he has made 17 appearances in all competitions this term and it seems unlikely that Klopp would be willing to let him leave on loan this month for fear of being short of options if any of his star players getting injured.
Instead, another Liverpool forward, Divock Origi, could be the answer to Crystal Palace's problems in the short-term at least. Palace pulled out of a move to sign Dominic Solanke, who left Liverpool to join Bournemouth for £19m on Friday, but Origi could be a viable alternative.
Getting a striker is obviously something we would like because as we've seen once again, we can't do much more in terms of dominating games," Hodgson told Sky Sports.
It's pretty obvious that if we had that person who scores goals from nothing, or scores goals from half-chances, we'd be a lot higher up the Premier League and would have won our FA Cup game a lot earlier.
It's early days in the transfer window and everybody knows this is a tough transfer window because clubs aren't eager to let players go if they're good enough.
You're looking for the rare pearl - someone who is good enough who will make us better who at the same time for some reason is being released by their club.
Origi could fit the bill as the 23-year-old has plenty to prove and he has scored one goal, as well as laid on one assist, in three appearances in all competitions this season. The Belgian became something of a cult hero with his last-minute winner for Liverpool against Everton earlier this season and it would make sense if the Reds included a release clause in any loan deal in case the club are gripped by an injury crisis.
Origi needs minutes at this stage of his career and he could be the answer to Crystal Palace's woes. The Eagles have scored just 19 league goals this season - only Huddersfield and Newcastle have scored less - and it is telling that their forwards have struggled in front of goal.
Jordan Ayew has notched just twice in the league, while Christian Benteke failed to score in his first four league games of the campaign before succumbing to a knee injury. Palace are desperate for a striker and a loan move for Origi makes perfect sense.
TUNE!
(📹 @danielnicolson)
#LFC
#MerseysideDerby
