‘Instinctive’, ‘fantastic’ – Klopp heaps praise on Liverpool senior star ahead of West Ham clash
By Matt Bullin
Jurgen Klopp has revealed he trusts Daniel Sturridge 100 per cent ahead of Liverpool’s Sunday afternoon clash with West Ham.
The 27-year-old England star has struggled with injuries this campaign and as a result has only made 25 appearances, mostly from the bench.
He’s now back and fit again, and has featured as a substitute in the Reds’ last two games against Crystal Palace and Southampton.
Lack of game time might seem to be signalling the end of Sturridge’s spell at Anfield, but Klopp’s latest comments hint there is a future for him there yet.
Speaking in the Liverpool Echo, the German said of Sturridge: “For all of us, it was unlucky that at important moments he was not available.
“That was not his fault. It was not my fault. It was only the situation. At this moment I trust him 100 per cent. He’s an instinctive footballer and a fantastic striker.
“For us, it’s good news that he’s now available. Three or four weeks ago, I was not sure that it would happen. Now he’s there, and that’s all good.”
Having signed from Chelsea in January 2012, Sturridge was prolific in his first full season with the Reds scoring 22 goals in 29 league games.
However since then he has never been able to recreate the same form and has struggled in front of goal, during this season particularly, which has seen him find the net only six times.
Liverpool currently sit third in the Premier League, knowing that if they can win their final two games against West Ham and Middlesbrough, a place in the Champions League next season is secured.
In other Liverpool news, Klopp must swoop to sign this ex-Barcelona ace on a cut-price deal.
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