Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has defended his decision to demote Daniel Sturridge to the bench against Tottenham.
Sturridge expressed his disappointment last week about being deployed about the wide during his side’s 2-0 loss to Burnley.
After a brace against Burton Albion in the League Cup, the England striker may have expected to start at White Hart Lane, however Klopp opted to go with Roberto Firmino in a false nine role.
To make matters even worse for Sturridge, his teammate Divock Origi was introduced into the action ahead of him and the 26-year-old saw just five minutes of action when brought on in the 87th minute.
Klopp defended explained the shock omission was primarily because of the way Liverpool set up tactically for the match.
“Daniel Sturridge is a wonderfully skilled player, but I made the decision based on the kind of defending that was important for Tottenham,” he said.
“When we last played Tottenham at home, he had an outstanding game. But I can only pick 11 players to start and I never make a decision like this against one player.”
Fears of a rift between player and manager have naturally surfaced in the media, but Klopp was quick to squash these and add he is happy to have Sturridge in his squad.
“I’m really happy that we have him. He will play and he will score and all will be good,” he said.
“He didn’t have a a perfect pre-season, other players have played more together in pre-season and that’s an advantage.”
“It’s early in the season. A few players have rhythm, a few don’t. There’s no big mountain for him, Daniel.”
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