Jurgen Klopp ignores rumours Sturridge wants to leave

Jürgen Klopp has refused to comment on claims that Daniel Sturridge wants to quit Liverpool and insisted his only concern is having the striker fit for next week's FA Cup fourth round replay at West Ham United.

Sturridge has returned to full training at Liverpool but will not be considered for today's Premier League game against Sunderland at Anfield.

Klopp hopes the England international, who has not played since December 6th due to his latest injury problem, will make his comeback at Upton Park on Tuesday along with other recent absentees, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi.

Protest

The Liverpool manager would not, however, discuss reports that Sturridge wants to leave Anfield. It was also announced before his press conference to preview Sunderland that Klopp would not take questions on the controversy over Liverpool’s new ticket price structure, with supporters’ group Spion Kop 1906 proposing a walk-out in the 77th minute of today’s match in protest.

“Daniel has been back in training two days and that is great, so everything looks good in this moment,” said Klopp. “Now it is normal football training. The day before yesterday he was with Phil and Divock – you see these three players and you know what you have missed.

“Obviously there were a few problems in the past with a few injuries, not just since I was here, and that is part of the truth but this is the past and it would be cool if we could leave it there and we can start from now on. What Daniel needs, what each player needs, is consistent training, training, training. That is normal to be fit for Premier League football.

“He’s not available this weekend because of training. Now it is two days’ training, today will be the third and it is not too intensive. Divock, Phil and Daniel are in training and you think after five minutes we should put them in the squad, but that is the moment when you have to say ‘Come on, we have to have another three sessions which we can use and maybe be available for West Ham’.”

Too cool

As for the quit claims, the Liverpool manager said: “The Daniel story is not a story. How can it be a story? You cannot create stories and then ask me. If someone wants to say something at least write your name under it and don’t suggest something that is not too cool. It is absolutely not frustrating, it is not interesting.”

The Liverpool manager was also relaxed about missing out on January transfer priority Alex Teixeira, who this week signed for Jiangsu Suning from Shakhtar Donetsk for a €50 million fee and personal terms said to be worth €13 million a year net.

Klopp added: “First of all, I think we should respect that we all can make our own decisions. In many parts of Europe people talk about the financial power of England because of the television contract and now maybe there is another competitor. The financial situation in football China is an individual decision.

“If you are 26 and you get an offer like an offer he got, everyone would think about it. There are a few problems less for the next generations of Teixeiras I think, but it is good news for the whole family. I have no problem with this, it is absolutely normal in football. I don’t think it is a sign in general. If you want to change your situation and get an offer from a club in China then everyone would think about it.” Guardian Service