Liverpool should have sold Divock Origi instead of Rhian Brewster this summer, says former Reds skipper Phil Thompson… as he hails ‘aggression’ of Sheffield United’s new striker
- Phil Thompson says Liverpool should have sold Divock Origi over Rhian Brewster
- Brewster left the Reds to join Sheffield United in a £23.5million deal this summer
- The former Liverpool captain believes Brewster has shown more aggression
Phil Thompson believes Liverpool sold the wrong player this summer by allowing Rhian Brewster to join Sheffield United instead of offloading Divock Origi.
Brewster sealed a £23.5million to the Blades after working his way up through the Reds’ academy. The youngster was tipped for big things but injury problems and competitions for places saw his first-team opportunities limited.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at Swansea, scoring 10 goals in 20 Championship appearances and he opted to make a permanent switch away from Anfield this summer.
Liverpool should have kept Rhian Brewster and sold Divock Origi, according to Phil Thompson
Origi has not featured in the Premier League for Jurgen Klopp’s side so far this season
But Thompson believes the Reds let the wrong man go and should have looked to move on Origi instead.
‘On the outgoings, I’m disappointed that they decided to let Rhian Brewster go,’ Thompson told Paddy Power.
‘I’d like him to have stayed. I can see some of the reasons why, but if you were asking me whether to go with Brewster or Divock Origi, for me, it’d be Origi going.
‘There’s not too many forwards that have the aggression that Brewster has.
The 20-year-old striker completed a £23.5million move to Sheffield United this summer
Thompson praised Brewster’s aggression and would have liked to see him given a chance
‘There’s a couple of others that could have gone, Xherdan Shaqiri for example could’ve brought a few quid in.’
Origi scored in the 2019 Champions League final and was part of the title winning squad but failed only managed six goals in all competitions during the previous campaign.
He is yet to feature in the Premier League this season with his two appearances coming in the Carabao Cup, a competition Liverpool have now been eliminated from.
Brewster is set to make his Sheffield United debut against Fulham after the international break.
The striker will be looking to make a quick start with the Blades having scored just one goal in their first four fixtures – all of which have ended in defeat.