England striker Sturridge returned to the starting line-up with two first-half goals as Liverpool reached the semi-final, where they will play Stoke City.
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Both clubs progressed through to the semi-finals of the League Cup during the week, and after being asked about the possibility of facing the Manchester giants, Klopp laughs off their threat, stating “We have no problem with Manchester City”.
When Sadio Mane headed Southampton into the lead just 39 seconds into their League Cup quarter-final against Liverpool on 2 December, Southampton fans cheered, for they thought this was to be their night.
Liverpool’s impressive form with Klopp losing just one of 11 matches since succeeding Brendan Rodgers means that he does not need to gamble with Coutinho’s fitness.
If there was any doubt over Origi’s first Liverpool goal, there was no dispute over his second, thrashing into the roof of the net after substitute Jordon Ibe rolled the ball into the Belgian’s path.
“Southampton manager Ronald Koeman said he was ” very disappointed” with their performance but hailed the display of the German’s side”.
“The options that are now potentially open to Roy Hodgson have never been better”, says Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph, adding that “it is still hard to think of a more instinctively unsafe player when he is fully fit than Daniel Sturridge”.
‘I know Steve McClaren and I know about his quality and experience. “Sometimes it happens like this and there’s nothing to criticise about it”, Klopp said as the manager gave his latest Liverpool injury update at his pre-match media conference.
“I like optimism, really, but with Phil we were too optimistic”, Klopp told reporters.
“Obviously he [Daniel Sturridge] did well in the last game and it was the plan beforehand together with the medical department that around 50, 55, 60 minutes would be good for him and good for us, so that’s what we did”. Maybe we have to play more defensively, more (sitting) back, waiting. “He feels good and that is good for us”.
Liverpool forward Divock Origi insists the squad is riding a wave of confidence following Wednesday’s 6-1 win over Southampton.
“You see how easily they play, that is not good”.
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“Like with any player who has had a long injury he did well in the game”, said Klopp.
