Jurgen Klopp has hilariously compared Daniel Sturridge to an orange, vowing not to “squeeze all his juice”.
The German has admitted that he is a big admirer of our star striker, but has also been understandably reluctant to ask too much of him after an injury-hit 18 months.
He has been helped by Divock Origi’s emergence as a star in the making along with encouraging cameos from Sheyi Ojo, and he’s now admitted he will continue to wrap Daniel in cotton wool between now and the end of the season.
“If you think Daniel Sturridge can play from the first to the last minute in the last nine games, fine,” Klopp said.
“Yes, he is in brilliant shape. I know it. The best thing for us, for him and for England for the European Championships is to keep him in the best shape since I have been here.
“Now we can say ‘Oh my God, Daniel is back, let’s push him through all these games!’ Yeah?
“If you think that is right, write it. If not, don’t ask me anymore. We will do what we think.
“But still, after this long period, you cannot use him as an orange and take each little bit of the juice.” (via Echo).
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A goal for Sturridge tomorrow will make him the fourth-fastest player to reach 50 goals for the club in the post-war period – only Albert Stubbins, Roger Hunt, and Fernando Torres have done it more quickly.
Would you play Daniel in the derby? Let us know in the comments…