“He can train almost normally but doesn’t feel totally comfortable”, says Klopp.
Advertisement
“I like working with him but he can’t play the next game”.
“He is training. We will wait”, Klopp said.
Klopp’s men make the trip to the north east off the back of a convincing 6-1 rout of Southampton in the League Cup – Daniel Sturridge scoring twice as Liverpool made it four straight wins in all competitions.
News broke this week that Daniel Sturridge is finally fit to feature for Liverpool once again after missing 73 out of 145 competitive matches since he joined Liverpool back in January 2013.
Klopp has his players playing with a higher tempo and it doesn’t matter who he selects to play, they are all contributing to the team.
The Brazilian has been forced to miss the last three games and while he has been able to train this week, Klopp revealed that Coutinho is still not feeling 100% so won’t be risked this weekend. It was good for him and good for us!
“So we have to be concentrated from the first second”.
Can has flourished in midfield under Klopp’s guidance, having arguably his best games in his two seasons at the club.
A team who had won only three of their first 11 games have now won seven of the last eight, including superb away victories over Premier League champions Chelsea and current leaders Manchester City. “He’s 21, he doesn’t look like it. Often in his game he doesn’t look 21, he sometimes looks like 80 – it’s the truth and he knows it”.
His talent has never been doubted, however, and the England frontman gave a timely reminder of his finishing prowess with superbly-taken first-half goals that had his manager purring.
“Hendo [Jordan Henderson] is a good example to explain why players have to be handled differently”.
Watford are worth considering every time they play teams outside the elite and they are decent odds at home to Norwich tonight. That is really the most important thing.
STEVEN Davis has urged Saints to go back to basics against Aston Villa at St Mary’s tomorrow – and has stressed that Ronald Koeman’s team have belief that they can turn their poor form around. It’s not his best position but he can play there. They are still susceptible to aerial threats and they need to organize the defense better against set pieces.
The German has been quick to defend Newcastle boss Steve McClaren despite the club’s struggles this year.
Advertisement
For now, though, Klopp is right to calm title talk and keep his players focussed on the next game and challenge at hand. We came away from Bournemouth and that was two clean sheets and we thought we might have turned a corner. Within ten minutes he finished two brilliant chances and we’re in the lead after a sloppy start.
