Sturridge ‘Quitting’ Story Rubbished by Klopp

Unsurprisingly Jurgen Klopp has rubbished last night’s reports that Daniel Sturridge was set to ‘quit’ Liverpool (whatever that actually means in practice). Sturridge hasn’t featured since Liverpool’s shocking 2-0 loss to Newcastle United at St. James’s Park on December 6. 

Last night the Daily Mirror ran with the story, stating: ‘The England striker’s desire to play has been questioned during his many lay-offs and he believes it could be time for a fresh start at another club’.

This clearly makes no sense on several levels. What team would he expect to pay his £150,000 weekly wage (that isn’t based in China..). The player clearly has an affinity with the club who actually gave him the opportunity to prosper.

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Why would Liverpool sell a player when they’ve had an awful lot of trouble in replacing Luis Suarez already? Try replacing both star strikers? Sounds like just more millions to be wasted by the Merseyside club. Sturridge’s time at the club may come to a final bypass, but that certainly isn’t yet; think maybe 2019 when his bumper contract elapses.

Sturridge has returned to full training at Liverpool but will not be considered for Saturday’s Premier League game against Sunderland at Anfield. Klopp hopes the England international will make his comeback at Upton Park on Tuesday along with other recent absentees, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi.

“Daniel has been back in training two days and that is great, so everything looks good in this moment,” said Klopp. “Now it is normal football training. The day before yesterday he was with Phil and Divock – you see these three players and you know what you have missed.

“Obviously there were a few problems in the past with a few injuries, not just since I was here, and that is part of the truth but this is the past and it would be cool if we could leave it there and we can start from now on. What Daniel needs, what each player needs, is consistent training, training, training. That is normal to be fit for Premier League football. We tried everything we could to bring him to this shape and now we are in the moment when hopefully we can get the benefit of this work.

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“He’s not available this weekend because of training. Now it is two days’ training, today will be the third and it is not too intensive. Divock, Phil and Daniel are in training and you think after five minutes we should put them in the squad but that is the moment when you have to say ‘Come on, we have to have another three sessions which we can use and maybe be available for West Ham’.”

As you can imagine, the resolution to this issue won’t be a sensation; certainly not in the sense of anything happening this summer. Although for Sturridge’s international career’s sake he really needs to get playing quickly..