LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 29, 2015: Liverpool's substitutes Daniel Sturridge and captain Jordan Henderson in action against Swansea City during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Henderson, Sturridge to miss Stoke City clash as Klopp struggles for numbers

Jurgen Klopp has ruled both Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge out of contention for Tuesday night’s League Cup clash with Stoke City.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 29, 2015: Liverpool's substitutes Daniel Sturridge and captain Jordan Henderson in action against Swansea City during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Klopp is in the middle of preparation for his first semi-final as Liverpool manager, taking on Mark Hughes’ impressive Stoke outfit at the Britannia Stadium on Tuesday night.

Speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon to preview this first-leg clash, Klopp revealed that neither Henderson or Sturridge would be fit to feature.

“We don’t really know, we have to wait each day, hour, minute,” he explained in relation to the heel injury Henderson suffered in December’s 1-0 win over Sunderland.

“[Henderson’s] foot is good. It’s painful but it’s good.

“In this moment there is blood around the heel, so at this moment it’s impossible to train and to play.”

Klopp fielded Lucas Leiva in place of Henderson in Saturday’s trip to the Boleyn Ground to take on West Ham United.

With their captain absent, however, Liverpool’s midfield suffered.

The Reds have experienced similar problems in attack following injuries to Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings, and it is likely that Christian Benteke will continue to lead the line on Tuesday.

Sturridge has missed most of the season with various injuries, and is currently undergoing intensive training before Klopp risks him in a first-team outing.

“Daniel had some problems, not serious, but he couldn’t make the next session,” Klopp continued.

“It’s how a pre-season can be!

“I won’t hold him back, but in this moment, because he hasn’t had one session with the team, he’s not available.

“What Daniel has to do in this moment is to be prepared for the things we make in a football game.

“Had his last pre-season in [2013], and during that period we load bodies with strength.

“What we have to do now is to try and fill his body with energy. It would be easy for me to say ‘come on, let’s try.’

“We have to be patient, we have to wait.”

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - Wednesday, December 30, 2015: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp during the Premier League match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Injuries to Henderson, Sturridge, Origi, Ings, Martin Skrtel, James Milner, Jordan Rossiter, Jon Flanagan and Joe Gomez leave Klopp with few options for Tuesday night’s cup tie.

But, despite this, the German reiterated how seriously he was taking the League Cup.

“We don’t have six, seven, eight players to change,” he admitted.

“We have to react on the impact of the last game, then decide. We want to win it.

“I cannot ignore the situation in the team after a number of games, we have to use each hour.”