Jurgen Klopp has admitted he does not know when Daniel Sturridge will play for Liverpool again as he ruled the English striker out for another two games - against West Ham United and Leicester City - in his latest press conference.
Sturridge came on as a second half substitute during Liverpool's 2-0 loss at Newcastle at the start of December and has not featured in the league since then. Klopp has given his insight into the injuries that have plagued Sturridge in recent weeks but there is a growing sense of weariness with every press conference that Klopp has to answer questions about his striker in.
“He is still working. Sometimes it is better, sometimes it is a bit worse because of other issues. That is all. He has done a lot of sessions in the last few weeks but it is always interrupted with a few breaks. He needs consistency in the sessions and that’s what we try to do. His injury history means this is normal. It is not a coincidence.
“Some things are not right if you are injured that often. We have to be really sensitive with all the information we get. He could do a lot of sessions in the last few weeks but, like I said, they have always been interrupted with a few different issues where we always have to see and wait on what happens. That is how it is.
There is no doubt that he is a very, very good player but at this moment he is not available so we don’t have to talk too much about him. He is not here. He cannot play tomorrow for sure, not against Leicester (in the Premier League next Tuesday) and I don’t know what happens after Leicester to be honest.”
Sturridge joined Liverpool in January 2013 and has amassed 45 goals in 73 appearances for the club. With such a phenomenal strike rate, he is being afforded every opportunity to regain fitness and impress his Liverpool manager but Klopp requires an ultra-vigilant form of pressing that includes plenty of running, which Sturridge has not adapted well to.
Liverpool need an overhaul of their entire squad and Sturridge's name might be on the transfer list in the near future if he can't put his injuries behind him.
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