Jurgen Klopp press conference: Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge in contention for Manchester City
The German coach also revealed that Mamadou Sakho may return sooner than expected
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Your support makes all the difference.Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge will be available for selection when his side visit Manchester City this weekend.
The new Anfield boss has not yet had the chance to start the 26-year-old striker, after Sturridge picked up a knee injury on the eve of Klopp’s first game in charge against Tottenham Hotspur.
Klopp has not, however, decided whether he will risk the England international striker from the start
“He trained with us and, of course, he is not 100 per cent. I don’t know what I will do tomorrow with regards to the squad,” he said during his pre-match press conference.
“His quality is outstanding, but everybody needs training. Today was his third full exercise with the team following four, five weeks break. But with a striker five minutes is sometimes enough.
“The problem is everyone can see Daniel’s quality. We have to think about him.”
"When you see Daniel in training and he does something, you say 'ooooh, nice',” Klopp said. “He was out for four-and-a-half weeks, I'm not sure if Liverpool had that long break in the summer!"
Klopp also addressed the situation regarding Steven Gerrard, following rumours that the former Liverpool captain is line to return to the club.
The LA Galaxy midfielder has been holidaying on Merseyside recently but the German coach confirmed he is yet to train with the Liverpool squad at Melwood.
“No he hasn’t trained, he’s on holiday. But it was good to see him. We spoke about many things.
“If he wants to train he can. There is no question. He can use Melwood before he goes back to LA.”
In other injury news, Mamadou Sakho’s is expected to return sooner than expected from the knee ligament damage he sustained in Liverpool’s defeat to Crystal Palace.
The French centre-back was expected to be out for a period of six to eight weeks but, following the international break, that prognosis has been revised.
"Sakho is good news,” Klopp said. “It's not that serious, not like we first thought. We don't want to give you a time. It won't be Christmas 2016!"
Klopp also expects club captain Jordan Henderson, who has been sidelined since Liverpool’s second game of the season against Bournemouth with a foot injury, to resume light training next week.
Meanwhile, the trio of Jordon Ibe, James Milner and Kolo Toure have all recovered from recent problems and are in contention to play in Saturday's tea-time kick-off at the Etihad Stadium.
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