Sturridge’s two goals in the thrashing of Southampton gave his manager a taste of his finishing prowess and, more importantly for Klopp, the England frontman came through the encounter without suffering any major ill-effects.
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Jordan Henderson, Firmino, Benteke, Sakho, Sturridge and season ending injuries to Gomez and Ings haven’t really mattered to Klopp as he’s transformed Liverpool into the league’s in-form team.
“Of course, he felt each muscle after the game”.
Divock Origi was rightly named man of the match on Wednesday night for his three goal heroics and what a transformation we saw from the Belgian global who looked lightweight and ineffective earlier in the season until Klopp left him out of the team to work on improving his game on the training field. “But with Phil, we were too optimistic. Good for him and good for us”, Klopp said. Sometimes it happens like this. “He can train almost normally but doesn’t feel totally comfortable”, says Klopp.
“We have to take care of this”. If someone tells me, ‘now he is available, ‘ and next time he will play with us, no problem.
“Obviously he did well in the last game, and it was the plan before the game that 50-60 minutes would be good for him”, said Klopp.
“It is a good example to explain how players have to be handled differently because Hendo is a worker and he needs to be absolutely fit and that is the difference, ” Klopp said.
Jordon Ibe has become a different player under Klopp and is now looking more confident and willing to take defenders on and is now a real attacking threat for Liverpool. It was good for him and good for us!
“Hendo has made a big step in the last few weeks and that’s the best news”.
Meanwhile, Newcastle have conceded eight in their last two games and have failed to score in their two most recent home games.
“That’s what he wants and if you make mistakes he just doesn’t kill your confidence and he gives you confidence to improve and tells you what you need to do”. We will wait, I can wait, until he is available.
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“I’m sure it would have not been possible to play the game on Wednesday with the same squad as three days before (the Swansea game) so we had to change”.
