Daniel Sturridge is ready to step into the breach should Liverpool be without Roberto Firmino for Tuesday’s visit of Paris Saint Germain to Anfield, according to Jurgen Klopp. Firmino sustained an eye injury during the Reds’ 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, and remains a doubt for their first Champions League group game.
But Klopp believes Sturridge, who has yet to start a game this season, is more than capable of filling the void up front for the hosts.
And so the 51-year-old’s only worry is having options from the bench after Dominic Solanke and Divock Origi picked up niggles playing for the club’s Under-23s over the weekend.
Asked about Sturridge’s readiness, Klopp replied: “He will be ready.
“If Bobby can’t play and Dom [Solanke] and Div [Origi] can’t then we are a bit short of options because both of them are a doubt at least because they got two little injuries in the game against Swansea with the U23s. “It made sense [to play them] but unfortunately they didn’t come through without any problems.
“But there’s no problem with the first line-up, only with having options then.”
PSG have completed a domestic treble in each of the last three seasons but have yet to see the vast investment made by the club’s Qatari owners since 2011 translate to European success.
But Klopp believes the French side are more focused on winning the Champions League than ever for that reason – and that makes Tuesday’s game even more difficult for his team.
He added: “Winning the first game is always an advantage, obviously, but we didn’t win it so far so we have to play it and it’s really difficult because PSG are one of the favourites for the competition.