Brendan Rodgers has suggested that he sympathises with Daniel Sturridge because of the injury record that is arguably preventing him becoming a regular under Jurgen Klopp.
Sturridge has been restricted to 22 Liverpool appearances this season and has recently shown signs of frustration and hinted that he could leave Anfield, as Sky Sports reports.
According to Sky Sports, the striker did not acknowledge our travelling fans after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Swansea City, three days after he was an unused substitute against Villarreal.
Starting at the Liberty Stadium means that the 25-year-old is again likely to miss out on the starting lineup, for Thursday’s second leg of our Europa League semi-final, despite Divock Origi being injured.
Former Reds boss Rodgers knows the difficulty of managing Sturridge’s fitness, and has indicated that Klopp faces a tricky task to balance getting results and keeping Sturridge happy.
“It’s been difficult for Daniel because he’s been injured a lot, and other players have come in and have done very, very well,” Rodgers told Sky Sports.
“Jurgen, as it is for any manager, has to manage the squad the best you possibly can to get the results and it’s about the team you can put together.”
Rodgers did get the best out of Sturridge. In the two-and-a-half-years that they worked together at Liverpool, the England forward scored 35 goals in 44 Premier League starts.
The Northern Irishman, still out of work after his Reds sacking, was speaking to Sky Sports after running a leg of the Belfast City Marathon in aid of Northern Ireland Hospice.
SEE MORE:
Mamadou Sakho latest: Liverpool defender’s ban spreads to have “worldwide effect”
(Video) Aston Villa fans brilliantly lost the plot when they won a corner at the weekend…
Liverpool scout spotted in France checking out Mario Gotze alternative