But when Divock Origi stretched his neck muscles to nod in the 96th-minute winner against Everton last Sunday, settling the 232nd Merseyside derby in Liverpool’s favour, he was following in a niche tradition: that of the unlikely hero.
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Many of those who have claimed starring roles in famous matches over the years emerged in challenging, unexpected or unusual circumstances.
Here are 10 of our favourites...
David Fairclough
‘Unlikely hero’ is perhaps a harsh label to attach to someone who scored 37 goals in 92 starts during the most successful era in the club’s history, but it’s worth remembering a few key points about Liverpool v Saint-Etienne, the second leg of a European Cup quarter-final in March 1977, and the match that defines the career of ‘Supersub’.