Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has appeared to suggest that Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi still have a part to play at Anfield next season.
The pair have returned to Merseyside for the start of pre-season after being loaned out in 2017-18 – Origi to Wolfsburg for the whole campaign and Sturridge to West Bromwich Albion for the final four months.
Both players have featured for Liverpool in their pre-season wins over Chester FC and Tranmere Rovers, taking advantage of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane’s absence, and Klopp is keeping a close eye on the striking duo.
“They have all the quality, you can see that, you saw it four or five days ago that they are all really good football players, but it’s not to show and we have our ideas,” he told the club’s official website.
“The boys, we need them. We play the games, we have the training sessions, they are nice fellas so it’s nice to have them around and then let’s see how it fits at the end.
“But it’s all about the boys, my door is that wide open so why should I make a decision today? I watch the games, I lead the sessions and then I make a decision at a specific point, but that’s not today and it’s not next week so we have still time.
Everybody has a place [here]. I would be really crazy if I would not give these boys a chance – they are fantastic players, they’ve played fantastic games, so we will see what happens.”
Liverpool face Bury and Blackburn Rovers in their next two pre-season friendlies over the next eight days.