Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says striker Daniel Sturrige is “as fit as he can be” ahead of the Manchester City game.
Liverpool heads into a big game against Manchester City looking to upset the top team in the league this season. They’ll need full hands on deck, and for Liverpool that means help up front, particularly the injured Daniel Sturridge.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, manager Jurgen Klopp said that Sturridge is “as fit as he can be” coming off the international break.
JK: “Sturridge is as fit as he can be after this break. He has trained with us. He is not 100 per cent.”
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 19, 2015
Klopp wasn’t willing to think about whether Sturridge would be in the starting line up.
“His quality is outstanding, but everybody needs training,” Klopp said, via Sky Sports. “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.”
Given the fact that Klopp says Sturridge isn’t 100 percent, it is unlikely to expect him to start against Manchester City. It doesn’t necessarily rule him out as a late substitute for Liverpool if the game is close and they need an offensive spark at the end of the game.
Sturridge, however, has come out and said he is fit and ready.
“I’m fit and ready to go and it’s going to be a great time for me,” Sturridge said, via Liverpool’s website.
“It’s been great under the new manager. I’ve been back training for the past couple of days and I was training when he first arrived.
“It’s an exciting time to be at the club and I’m enjoying working with him and the style of football. It’s important for us to understand what he wants us to do.”
Klopp could be just trying to temper expectations of Sturridge from fans and media with his comments.