Jurgen Klopp Relying On Daniel Sturridge To Lead Liverpool To Champions League Qualifying

Jurgen Klopp says he is prepared to turn to Daniel Sturridge to lead Liverpool toward a Champions League qualifying bid.

Jurgen Klopp turning to Daniel Sturridge for Liverpool’s Champions League Qualifying

The 27-year-old English forward has not played a full 90-minute game for the Reds since a 1-1 tie against Chelsea last year, on May 11.

Liverpool need to win their last two Premier League games of the season — a matchup at West Ham on Sunday and then a home contest against Middlesbrough on May 21 – in order to secure a top-four finish in the Champions League.

When asked about whether Sturridge would be ready to play for Sunday’s game in east London, Klopp said he was confident the striker would make a good start.

“Ready. That is good,” the German manager said. “So far it’s been difficult because you can’t start a player then have to think after 40 minutes ‘so we have to change?’

With regards to Sturridge’s performance in Sunday’s 0-0 home tie against Southampton, where the forward nearly scored his third Premier League goal of the season, Klopp stated: “That is Daniel. If he had not been fit it would not have been possible. That is unfortunately how it is.”

The German boss continued: “Even Daniel Sturridge cannot perform [when he is] like this so he needs a physical situation,” said Klopp. “Daniel is a wonderful option to have but it is all about being fit or not. It is not the name we bring on the pitch, it is the player, the human being, in this specific shape.

“When he was fit he was always a real, real, real option for us. And it is again now like this. It is really good timing.”

Meanwhile, two other Liverpool players are competing for a start at West Ham on Sunday: Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana.

“We have had to manage Roberto for a few weeks. He feels a muscle in training,” Klopp revealed of the Brazilian midfielder. “He always wants to play so we need to make decisions for him. We have to wait and give him as much time as possible.”

The German’s comments come one day after he said Liverpool would not sell Philippe Coutinho this summer, despite rumors linking the 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder to a transfer to Barcelona.  

Liverpool are third in the Premier League with 70 points, only behind second-place Tottenham (77) and leaders Chelsea (84).

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 25: Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool in action during the EFL Cup Semi-Final Second Leg match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on January 25, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)