Divock Origi and Iago Aspas: Brendan Rodgers' Transfers Questioned as Liverpool Loanees are on Target in Europe

Liverpool duo loanee Divock Origi and Iago Aspas have put Brendan Rodgers' summer transfer decisions under scrutiny after scoring goals with their sides in their Europa League games while the Reds's first-team strikers have struggled to hit the target regularly.

Following the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona in the summer, Rodgers bolstered his attack in with the signings of Mario Balotelli, from AC Milan for around £16m, and Rickie Lambert, after paying £4m to Southampton for his services.

Rodgers signed Belgium World Cup sensation Origi, too, but ended up returning him to former club Lille on a season-long loan to complete his development.

The Liverpool manager also sent Spaniard Aspas on loan to Sevilla a year after the club paid around £7m to Celta Vigo to secure his services.

Aspas scored 12 goals in La Liga the season before his move to Anfield but with Suarez and Daniel Sturridge excelling up-front during the last campaign, he just had five starting appearances under Rodgers.

The loanee pair look now ready to seize their opportunities abroad to prove to Rodgers they will mount successful challenges for the attacking positions when they return to Anfield.

Origi has prolonged his excellent World Cup form this season, with a strong start for Lille. Having scored three goals in six Ligue 1 appearances, the 19-year-old also helped his side to secure a 1-1 draw against Wolfsburg in their Europa League clash on Thursday 2 October by scoring from the penalty spot.

Meanwhile, Aspas scored his first goal for Sevilla in a 2-2 draw against Rijeka.

The goals from both loaness come at a time when Liverpool are struggling up-front, having scored only eight times in six league matches.

Both Balotelli and Lambert have failed to make an impact in Sturridge's absence, with the England international out injured, and neither has scored a Premier League goal since their summer arrivals to Anfield.

Nevertheless, Rodgers recently backed his decision to send Origi on loan, claiming he is a player for the future.

"We took a player in Divock Origi who we believe will be world class and we'll get him next summer. He is a top player. He has everything - the speed, the profile and he can play now but our deal was that we couldn't bring him in now," he said.

"That was unfortunate because he can run in behind, he can keep the ball, he can press and he can run."