Match of the Day pundit Ian Wright has questioned whether Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge will accept being continually left on the sidelines by Jurgen Klopp.
Sturridge came on in the 78th minute in the 0-0 draw against Southampton at the weekend and had very little time to affect the game. Klopp opted to start Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho despite all three travelling long distances on international duty, and on Match of the Day, Wright asked whether it may time for Sturridge to move on in January:
“When you look at it (Coutinho, Firmino and Mane’s globetrotting), if Daniel Sturridge – who has just scored for England and is buzzing – can’t get in the team when those lads have done so many miles, he’s got to start looking at what’s going on for himself in January.”
It must be said that although Mane and Coutinho did play matches for their country during the international break, Roberto Firmino remained on the bench for Brazil, and would have been fresh to start against the Saints.
With the Brazilian in hot form, and the fact that Klopp sees it as a straight fight between Firmino and Sturridge for a starting place, it was unsurprising to see the former Hoffenheim player picked for the match at St Mary’s on Saturday.
