Klopp bemoans impact of icy pitch after Sion bore draw

Klopp also gave positive updates on the fitness of defenders Mamadou Sakho and Jon Flanagan, who could both return for the Reds over the festive period.

The Frenchman suffered the injury landing awkwardly during November’s 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, and has missed Liverpool’s last six fixtures so far as a result.

Liverpool face West Bromwich Albion on Sunday with Klopp eager to find the free-flowing formula against sides whose main priority is defence.

“Mama has trained now”.

“There are no more issues with the knee and everything is okay, now he has to work to be a real option for us”.

The Brazilian’s return – allied to Jordan Henderson first start since the second game of the season – ensured Klopp could return to Merseyside with fewer stricken players rather than losing more on a Swiss ice rink.

“It’s much more important to work with people and if you trust them they have to feel it – and not just for two days but for a longer time”, Klopp was quoted as saying in the Telegraph.

On Sturridge’s recovery process, Klopp explained: “It’s like I said before: we have to train with him, we have to make sessions with him as soon as he is prepared for it”.

And the German said: “I’m looking forward to the draw now and we’ll see what happens”.

“My family got to know his family, and gave all our support, and we helped him achieve what he has with that support”.

“The first thing you have to do in a match like this is show character – and that’s what we did”.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp invites his players to his Christmas party after learning that they have cancelled their own.

“We know all the players in world football – some fit us some don’t so we will see what happens”.

“I was watching and listening to him in team meetings and the dressing room, taking everything in, and now that I’m involved in games it’s even better”. “Of course, we also have [Danny] Ingsy but he’s not available at the moment”.

Brad Smith, making his full debut for Liverpool, got down the left flank, but Origi could not turn his excellent cross home.