Sturridge not happy playing out wide

Daniel Sturridge has admitted that he is frustrated at playing in a wing role for Liverpool.

The England global looked off the pace away at Burnley last weekend and Divock Origi started up top in the EFL Cup second-round win against Burton Albion on Tuesday night.

Jurgen Klopp says he can not understand why he keeps being asked about the future of his striker Daniel Sturridge.

But Klopp explained that the idea of not deploying Sturridge in his preferred position was to do with the team’s evolution and he maintains it has nothing to do with any breakdown in the relationship between the two men.

He said: “Of course it is more hard for me to play wide”.

The modest talk from Klopp is a clear indication of just where we are in the season – it’s far too early to start judging players or the team as a whole after just a few matches. Both games, Burnley and Burton, were games where we didn’t actually need offensive wingers. You do them on auto pilot. It is not a fixed position (where you) stay outside and wait until you get the ball – especially not in Daniel’s case. There’s absolutely no problem with that. But if I am in the squad, it will be a good occasion and we are looking to bounce back from the Euros.

“Everyone knows where I enjoy playing the most. Everybody who needs to be informed about this has been informed about this”, Klopp said.

When asked if he’d consider selecting the pair to operate in tandem, the 49-year-old said: “They played in Southampton together [the 6-1 League Cup win at St Mary’s] and it was not too bad”.

‘It’s flexible football. It’s about getting in and around the box’. You have to change positions. Daniel is a very smart player in hiding himself in positions where it is not easy to defend and it is very often in a wing position.

Liverpool will be out to put their disappointing defeat to Burnley behind them when they travel to Burton Albion in the 2nd round of the Capital One Cup tonight, as they take on Nigel Clough’s Championship side.

“You’ve seen in the games, Arsenal and today [what he can do]”, Henderson said.