Mane was the star of the show of the show in the second-round EFL Cup tie with Nigel Clough’s Championship side, having played a part in four of Liverpool’s goals in the 5-0 win at the Pirelli Stadium.
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The Belgian scored Liverpool’s opening goal in a comfortable victory and would appear to be the biggest threat to Sturridge’s hopes of playing through the middle as an out-and-out striker this season.
‘I don’t want to play Daniel as a wide player, ‘ said Klopp.
“What will happen we will see, I don’t know in this moment, but we do not have a preferred position to sign players”.
But addressing the media at Melwood ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur, Klopp said: “I don’t want to play Daniel as a wide player”.
“Well, I have to do a job for the team”, he said after revealing that it was more hard to make the same impact on the wing as in his favoured position up front, where he claims to be on autopilot.
“When you are playing in a position that you are not used to, it is different”. I have to do a job for the team.
“Well, I have to do a job for the team”. It’s a team game. However, Klopp insisted that he plans to play him as a central striker, but said that the game is all about changing positions.
Daniel Sturridge was stationed out wide by Klopp in Liverpool’s line-up against Burnley and Burton Albion while Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi started up front in respective games.
Klopp was pleased with a “serious” performance from his side, but admitted he had a plan to give certain players more minutes that was disrupted by Can’s knock. I am a player who plays on instinct. “I’m a centre-forward”, England global Sturridge said, quoted by several national newspapers.
‘When Daniel, for example, plays as the No 9, in the centre, and just stays there – that makes no sense.
Daniel Sturridge has spoken of his frustration at being deployed out wide opposed to his favoured position in the centre. “He’s good at getting himself into positions where it’s not easy to defend”. You do them on auto pilot.
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‘That’s flexible football, but you need to find a formation for players to start in.
