'Daniel Sturridge is a real, real option for us to face West Ham'
Jürgen Klopp today declared Daniel Sturridge is 'ready' to face West Ham United this weekend as Liverpool consider shuffling the pack after four games with an unchanged line-up.
Roberto Firmino is a doubt for the trip to the London Stadium due to a muscle injury and if he were to miss the contest, it could present an opportunity for Sturridge to begin his first Premier League game since January 2.
Klopp explained during his pre-match press conference on Friday morning he has been impressed with the striker’s performances in training at Melwood this week and insists he is ready to start if selected.
He said: “How he looked yesterday: ready. That’s good. It was so far difficult of course because we can’t start a player and then think [after] 40 minutes do you have to change or whatever, so I was really happy about having the opportunity to bring on the pitch the starting line-up who did the job, worked well and all that stuff.
“Then you can bring [in a] fresh Daniel Sturridge, that makes sense. Like in the last game with Adam Lallana, these are two top players so they have an impact.
“Now the situation is different again, we’ve had another week we had in training and from all I saw so far, it was good. Now we have hopefully a few options more but we will see.”
Free clip: Klopp on Sturridge and Lallana
Sturridge was introduced as a 69th-minute substitute during last weekend’s goalless draw at Anfield with Southampton and his bright cameo gave Liverpool a different dimension to their efforts in trying to break down the visiting rearguard.
“That’s Daniel,” said Klopp. “If he would have not been fit, it would not have been possible. That is, unfortunately, how it is. Even Daniel Sturridge cannot perform like this [clicks fingers]. He needs to have a physical situation.
“I would have loved to have brought him in against Crystal Palace, but he was not available. That was the situation and we cannot change it.
“When he is fit, he is always a real, real, real option for us – and it is now again like this.”