Klopp on Hendo's 'big step', Sturridge and Rossiter
Jordan Henderson will continue to be assessed in his recovery from injury but Jürgen Klopp today spoke of a 'big step' taken by the Liverpool captain as he targets a return to the side.
The midfielder has not featured for the Reds since mid-August and has therefore not been available to the manager so far following his appointment last month.
But Henderson has stepped up his rehabilitation at Melwood during the past week and adapted quickly to the intensity of training sessions back with his teammates.
Klopp insisted he will not rush into reintroducing the skipper, however, explaining that a player of his style has to be in perfect condition to ensure a seamless comeback.
The boss said at his pre-match press conference: “He wants [to play] and we have to wait.
“We have to wait every day how we adapt the intensity of the last day, the next morning, feel good and that’s all we can say. If he’s ready and we see, he can join in our game. He is a very important player for us.
“I’m waiting for him. For a player like him and after his little history with injury, he’s always at the door! ‘Give me 10 minutes, five minutes, whatever.’
“I like this but it’s not always the best thing to do. But he’s a big step ahead now.
“In his case, we always have to wait how we can adapt the intensity; that’s not my intensity or what we are doing in training, it’s his intensity – everything we do, he does 120 per cent.
“You need to be prepared for this. A player like Hendo needs perfect physical [condition], he has to be really fit, not only 50 per cent. If he is in this shape, we can use him and he can help us.”
Klopp also offered further detail on Daniel Sturridge after the striker was not part of the Liverpool squad for Thursday’s 2-1 Europa League victory against Bordeaux at Anfield.
He said: “I understand why everybody is waiting but we have to accept the situation and the situation is that Daniel was very often injured in the last few months and maybe years.
“It’s normal when you get back in training. Usually, if you are not the quality of Daniel, nobody would think to bring him back onto the pitch after this short time.
“What you need in times like this is training and your body has to learn to adapt to a new intensity of training. Everybody wants him back on the pitch, but we all have to learn.
“That was the situation yesterday. The training for him was intensive, how it should be. We had some new things to talk about, so we have to make some assessment.
“That’s what we did and now we can say it’s not that serious but it’s not possible to go on as before. We always have to react to a situation that is completely normal after a long injury.
“Think about the whole of last year. He has played only three games [this season], against Aston Villa that I saw with two goals, and another two.
“Last season with the surgery on the hip, it is a really long period. Now we have to stay patient, I’m sorry to say – sorry for you, sorry for me and sorry for him. That’s how the situation is.”
The manager added: “It’s what I said a few weeks ago – if Daniel comes back, we have to train him.
“Usually, after this long break, if the world was perfect, you should train for five weeks in a row, without playing, only friendly games – 10 minutes, 20 minutes then 45.
“Like a pre-season, that would be best. But we all know the world is not perfect, even in Liverpool. We always have to try the best and the quickest.”
Jordan Rossiter, meanwhile, is progressing well and could feature when the U21s travel to Manchester United on Monday evening.
“Jordan Rossiter is not that far away but he is a young lad,” said Klopp.
“I have seen him three times in training; he looks good and everything is OK but usually we should give him time, minute by minute to play more and more and more. There is an opportunity on Monday night with the U21s.”