Jurgen Klopp has publicly put his trust in Daniel Sturridge, despite the Liverpool striker’s ongoing injury problems.
Since signing for Liverpool in January 2013, Sturridge has missed 59 games for the Reds due to a string of injuries, instead scoring 42 goals in 70 total appearances.
The 26-year-old was again absent from the Reds’ starting XI for Klopp’s first game as Liverpool manager at Tottenham on Saturday after picking up a knee injury in training the day before.
But as frustrating as Sturridge’s fitness issues are, Klopp has backed the England international to shine for the Reds.
“I’ve known Daniel now for one week and for six days he was perfect in training,” Klopp told several English newspaper journalists, including the Daily Express‘ Paul Joyce. “Everything we did he was full of power, skills. He was outstanding.
“So many good things and then he got this contact with Ibe. In another situation I would have talked to him and said, ‘Please try’. But we can’t [take risks] in a week of two ACLs.
“We need Daniel for sure and if we played the Tottenham game on Thursday then maybe he would play. No problem. I trust 100 per cent this player.”
Video: Klopp on Sturridge’s fitness
Klopp will be hoping to have Sturridge fit for Thursday’s Europa League clash against Rubin Kazan at Anfield.
It will be the German manager’s first home game in charge of Liverpool, and one Neil Poole hopes can give him a proper welcome after his intrusive press-frenzy of the last two weeks.
Is Sturridge a striker worth persevering with despite his recurring fitness issues? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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