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Divock Origi smiles at being reminded of the dubious honour that befell him last May.

A torrid season-long loan at Lille ended with him being named in L’Equipe’s Ligue One worst team of the season.

It was hardly the perfect preparation for his £10million move to Liverpool with the young striker low on confidence and the butt of the jokes.

But some 11 months on nobody is laughing at Origi any more. His critics have been silenced in the best possible fashion.

After a tough start to the campaign, the Belgium international has blossomed under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp.

As he prepares for the biggest night of his club career in the Europa League quarter-final second leg against Borussia Dortmund, the dark days of last season are an increasingly distant memory.

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“It was an awful year,” Origi said. “It was a special situation but I’m sure it made me a lot stronger when I came here.

“I was very hungry to succeed. It wasn’t easy but in the football world it can build you up and you can sometimes go down.

“But when you have a good base then you don’t have to worry. When you know you have qualities then you know your hard work will bring you far.

“At the end of my career it will only make it more special when you can say ‘look, the year before this happened. then the year after...’

“Even for players younger than me, it shows you never have to give up. When you believe in yourself people can say what they want but when you work hard and you have your head clear then everything is possible. I hope in the future it will be a nice story to tell.”

'To play a game like this is the reason I came here'

The most recent chapters have been thrilling. Trusted with leading the line in Dortmund last week, Origi responded with a man-of-the-match performance - capped by a precious away goal in the 1-1 draw.

He followed that up with a classy double after coming off the bench in last Sunday’s 4-1 rout of Stoke City to take his tally for the season to eight goals. His claims to start Thursday night’s second leg against Dortmund are compelling.

“To play a game like this is the reason I came here,” he said.

“This is a big club and we want to win prizes. I just try to prepare as well as possible and then the coach has to make the choices.

“I was very happy to get game time in the first leg and I just wanted to do my best. When someone shows confidence in you, you want to reward it. I am just glad everything went okay.

“Afterwards the manager just said ‘well done’. He knows I have a long way to go. I know that too so I just try to enjoy the moments when I score and help the team. I know I have to improve certain aspects to be more consistent and that is what I am trying to do.

“I am enjoying my football. I feel I am playing well and scoring goals, which is important for a striker. I feel fit and I feel that I am expressing myself better on the field. I am working hard in training and enjoying games.

“I feel good at the club and it is a combination of all these things that is making me perform well on the pitch. But I also know that people have to see my full potential. You have to make steps to go there.”

'I have made steps because I was young and now I am starting to see the difference'

Origi’s exciting development has been clear on two fronts. He has bulked up to handle the physical demands of English football, while working with Klopp has improved him greatly tactically.

The manager revealed recently that the frontman has put on so much muscle that he’s had to start wearing a bigger shirt.

“When you come to the Premier League, you realise you have to be physically strong because it is a very intensive league,” Origi said.

“I have been trying to work on this. It was a surprise because it’s very fast and physical. You have a lot of big players in every team and it is different to other leagues, where you maybe have three or four very good teams. Here there are very good teams everywhere and a lot of big competitions so you have to be ready.

“I only have small experience in the first team. Coming here, seeing how the big players handled it and worked, it inspired me. I have made steps because I was young and now I am starting to see the difference.

“We have a good fitness team here so I try to do every day something on my core or my muscle strength. I think I have seen some improvements and I am happy that seems to be the case.”

He’s also grateful to Klopp who has ironed out some of the rough edges and channelled that raw talent. He’s been encouraged to play less with his back to goal and to use his pace and power to run at defenders.

'To be able to work with the manager is great as he knows exactly what he is doing'

Klopp was already an admirer of Origi before he took over at Anfield having been keen to take him to Dortmund when it became clear that Lille were willing to sell two years ago.

“My management was more aware of the interest of other clubs like Dortmund, but when Liverpool came, my heart just said ‘Liverpool’,” Origi said.

“I came to visit here and straight away I felt part of it. Everyone knew me, even the video analysts. They knew exactly how I played. I didn’t look elsewhere too much.

“It is always nice that people (Klopp) believe in you but you have to prove it on the pitch. If you are good, the manager will see it and he will use you as he knows. Then you don’t have to ask too many questions.

“At this age, you learn a lot tactically. To be able to work with the manager is great as he knows exactly what he is doing. He has a clear plan. It is very easy to try and suit his system.

“Before I came to the club I played more with my back to the goal. My qualities are more when I move around and go one-on-one to use my speed. I have seen big improvements.

“We all know the qualities of the boss and we all know the history of the club of bringing up young players. I think I am at the right place and it’s just depends on me how I put in the work. I am religious so I hope God will open the doors for me and then I’ll give it my all.”

'I try to see how Daniel moves - he moves very smart'

Klopp’s faith in Origi, who turns 21 this Sunday, was underlined by his decision to play the youngster ahead of Daniel Sturridge in the first leg. Sturridge responded in style with a fine display against Stoke.

The duo are spurring each other on and Origi believes he can learn from the England international.

“He’s a big player so when I play with him I see a lot of things I can put in my game, as well as with Christian (Benteke), Danny (Ings) and even the young players,” he said,

“I try to see how Daniel moves. He moves very smart, he comes between the lines and he finishes very well. He is creative so he has a lot of qualities and talent. He became a big player so that’s my aim, to make the same progress like him.”

For a striker who started a World Cup quarter-final against Argentina when he was still a teenager, taking on Dortmund in Anfield’s most eagerly anticipated European night for years holds no fears.

It’s about the finishing the job off Liverpool started in the Westfalenstadion a week ago.

“This will be a very big game so I think the atmosphere at Anfield will be special,” Origi added.

“I think that will only make us stronger and we have a big chance of winning it.

“I just hope this year we win the cup. That is our goal.

“I’ll just try to do my thing and play free.”