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"Now I Understand the Hype Around You!"- Klopp tells Sturridge

Published

5 years ago

December 4, 2015

The striker returned from yet another injury to score twice against Southampton as Liverpool won 6-1 in the League Cup quarter-final on Tuesday, exciting his new manager
Jurgen Klopp said he finally understood the hype around Daniel Sturridge after the striker scored two goals as Liverpool thrashed Southampton.
Sturridge made his first start since October and scored a first-half double before being substituted around the hour-mark of the 6-1 win in the League Cup quarter-final at St Mary’s on Wednesday.
Klopp said he could finally see what all the fuss was about when it came to Sturridge, riddled by injuries but having shown his quality with 21 Premier League goals in 2013-14.
“I said to him after the game, ‘Now I know what everyone is talking about,'” he told reporters. “I knew about his quality, but I never saw it live in a stadium, but the rest I knew about.
“Go on, for everybody, it’s no special thing. It’s important for us that we have these good strikers that can react in the moments.
“We spoke about this at Liverpool a few days ago. If everybody is fit then we have a few disappointed players, if not enough players are fit then the intensity is too high for the healthy players.”
Klopp felt his decision to start Sturridge was the right one but was reluctant to comment on the striker’s ability to replicate his best form for Liverpool moving forward.
Asked if the 26-year-old could recapture his form of previous seasons, Klopp said he had no idea.
“Please. You don’t really want to ask this question. How should I know? Please,” he said. “You ask me, you know him much longer than myself.
“Of course maybe he can be better. Write that, ‘chairman says Daniel Sturridge can be much better than he was a few years ago.'”