Why Divock Origi isn't involved against Liverpool - AC Milan spat explained

Any Liverpool fans hoping to see Divock Origi against the Reds in this season's Champions League will be left disappointed.

Origi remains a cult hero at Anfield, thanks in no small part to his goals in the run to European glory in 2019. He scored twice in the dramatic semi-final comeback victory over Barcelona before netting in the final as Jurgen Klopp's team beat Tottenham in Madrid.

The Belgian called time on his Liverpool career in 2022, joining AC Milan on a free transfer when his contract expired. Things haven't worked out too well for him at the San Siro, though, and he was allowed to spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest.

With Forest opting against a permanent swoop, Origi returned to Milan in time for them to be drawn against Liverpool in the Champions League. However, he's nowhere near the matchday squad as the teams do battle in Italy.

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Milan legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to the club as an advisor in 2024, and has had his say in some first-team affairs. He and Origi were briefly team-mates in the 2022-23 season, but that hasn't stopped the Swede banishing his old colleague to the reserves.

"Divock Origi and Fodé Ballo-Toure are not part of our plans," Ibrahimovic said in July. “They will be part of the youth team as they’re not included in our project."

Ballo-Toure, like Origi, had a tough loan spell in England last term. He played just 65 Premier League minutes for Fulham, across six substitute outings, and was not picked up permanently by Marco Silva's side.

Milan boss Paulo Fonseca chose summer signing Alvaro Morata to lead the line against Liverpool. The Spanish frontman is flanked by Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao, with England internationals Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek also in the starting XI.

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot has also selected a front three, with Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota starting. The match is Jota's 150th for the club, with the Portugal international chasing his first Champions League goal since November 2021 - though Liverpool weren't involved in the Champions League last term.

“Imagine something that you really like to do, and you stay without doing it for one year, how looking forward to it you would be to do it again," goalkeeper Alisson said the day before the Milan tie. "That’s the way we feel. Playing the Champions League was one of the reasons that I came here to Europe from Brazil.

“Not being able to play last season was really hard. But here we are again after a really good season qualifying in a really difficult league. We are looking forward to it. Tomorrow is a big chance to prove again and to go back to the good start we had in the season.

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