Sadio Mane headed Southampton in front after 39 seconds, but Sturridge marked his first start since October 4 with a quick-fire brace and 20-year-old Belgian striker Origi claimed a treble as the visitors roared back, with substitute Jordon Ibe also on target.
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“The problem with Daniel was we didn’t know how long he could play”.
Klopp said: “I said to him after the game: ‘Now I know what everybody is talking about”. It’s important for us we have these good strikers.
He said: “Maybe we could have done better so far, but it is okay”.
“No (Sturridge did not need convincing to start)”.
“When we all decide “Yes, go” then we have to trust each other”. He had not the ideal pre-season. I don’t say, “my contract is for three seasons, my job is to have a good team after three seasons”.
Klopp’s side, who have now won seven of their last eight games in all competitions, join Premier League leaders Manchester City, Merseyside rivals Everton and Stoke City in the draw for the semi-finals.
Eighteen minutes remained when Ibe, following a left-wing cross from Moreno, sent an equally powerful shot into the back of the net from just inside the area after chesting the ball to control, and even then Klopp’s resurgent team had the time and desire to score again. “You can not be in Liverpool because of the weather, so it must be because of the football club”, said the Reds boss with a wide grin in his post-match presser. Stoke will want to be in this final as much as possible.
“As at Chelsea, Liverpool conceded an early goal here at Southampton but simply shrugged it off to overpower Ronald Koeman’s side, who were nearly visibly pleading for mercy by the final whistle in this 6-1 hammering”.
“I have to recognise it was a great Liverpool performance”, said Koeman.
“He doesn’t have to play in all the games, but if we can decide when is the right moment to fight, and when is the right moment for recovery, everything should be okay”.
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Liverpool fans have grown accustomed to their star man being unavailable in recent times – indeed, he’s missed 36 of the last 52 league games – but they will have been pleasantly surprised to see him return from the bench against Swansea. The Villans did put up a spirited fight, but couldn’t quite match the hosts’ quality, as second half goals from Mayo Yoshida and Graziano Pelle made sure that Scott Sinclair’s 90th minute penalty was nothing more than a mere consolation.
