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Belgium forward Divock Origi vows to fight for Liverpool place

Belgium forward Divock Origi has said he plans to stay at Liverpool and fight for his place in the side.

Origi, 21, has featured in five of Liverpool's seven Premier League games to date but each has come from the bench.

With the Reds fourth in the table, just two points behind leaders Manchester City, the former Lille striker is realistic but not resigned about his chances of changing Jurgen Klopp's mind.

"I want to play more, but the team is winning, and you don't change a winning team," Origi said.

Asked whether he regrets not moving away from Anfield in search of more playing time this summer, he said: "No, I tell myself that I want to work to get into the team.

"It won't be easy, but I'll do what I can. I don't ask myself too many questions, anything can happen in football.

"I work a lot and I'm convinced it will pay off. I'm someone who moves forward in difficult times. I have to stay patient."

Belgium teammate Christian Benteke, meanwhile, did opt to leave Anfield for Crystal Palace in the summer as he sought to get his faltering career back on track.

Benteke, 25, has found the net three times in five Premier League outings for Palace, including the strike that earned his team a point against in-form Everton last weekend.

The former Aston Villa forward, who scored just nine goals for Liverpool last season, told Belgian media he is benefiting from the confidence his national team coach, Roberto Martinez, and his club manager, Alan Pardew, are showing in him.

"The coach [Martinez] told me he is counting on me for the national team," he said. "He believes in my abilities. It's the same thing at Crystal Palace. The coach has faith in me, and that's something I really needed."

Despite his form, Benteke is still likely to find himself behind Romelu Lukaku, who scored Everton's goal against Palace last weekend, in Martinez's plans for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Gibraltar.

"I don't think I scored more points than Romelu. We scored a goal each, so we're equal," Benteke said.

"The hierarchy is established in terms of performances on the pitch. I'm in a good spell, so it's easy for me to come and say I'm ready. I'm in a good position, that's for certain, but I have always had a good attitude and the motivation has always been there."