Klopp poised to call upon Sturridge for the first time

Injury-prone striker could see some game time against Bordeaux in Europa League

Jurgen Klopp has said he is close to deploying Daniel Sturridge for the first time in his Liverpool reign but has no dilemma over accommodating the strikers at his disposal.

Sturridge was an unused substitute in Liverpool’s mauling of Manchester City on Saturday, with Christian Benteke also starting on the bench as Klopp fielded Roberto Firmino at the centre of his three-pronged attack.

The Liverpool manager, who had only Divock Origi available at the start of his Anfield tenure with Danny Ings also sidelined by injury, has seen his striking options finally improve in the past week and may give Sturridge game-time against Bordeaux tonight.

Liverpool will qualify for the knockout stage with a win or a goalless draw at Anfield.

Klopp’s priority, however, is the development of his team following the 4-1 win at the Etihad Stadium. “What is most important is having 11 players who can work and who are together on the pitch,” he said. “Not having four strikers on the pitch in the hope of scoring more goals. It is about creating these moments to score.

“The best news at the moment is Daniel is getting closer and closer. He can train seven or eight times in a row which is the longest period since I’ve been here.”

Decision

The Liverpool manager, who could be without the ill Martin Skrtel and will be without Philippe Coutinho against Bordeaux, added: “Daniel’s had another three or four sessions since Saturday which is important. My decision [on the team] you will see tomorrow but the most important thing is he can train without problems. We will see in the game if we have a good feeling for him to have a few minutes or more.”

Klopp was asked by a French journalist for his thoughts on Willy Sagnol, the former Bayern Munich defender who took charge of Bordeaux last year, his first coaching role at club level.

“I know he was one of the best full-backs I ever saw,” the Liverpool manager replied. “He played sometimes in a German style, whatever that is. But it doesn’t matter who is on the touchline, it is about the players on the pitch. He was a world class full back. I was a non-league full-back. We’ll see what works better.”

Philippe Coutinho, Kane, Vardy: Names of the Premier League, Week 13

But despite the widespread, lazy myth that recruiting English talent from the lower leagues is prohibitively expensive, few of those 18 England players cost a king's ransom when moving to the top flight.

"It's been an incredible rise from non-league football right through to the Premier League but the biggest jump in some ways has been the meteoric rise in the last 12 months", Neville said. They've come from nowhere - favourites for relegation a year ago - and now they are leading the Premier League.

Table-toppers Leicester, who have just two league wins in 18 encounters with United, have a tough run of fixtures as they face five of last season's top eight in their next six league games. The Foxes have thus far played against Sunderland, West Ham, Tottenham, Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Stoke, Arsenal,Norwich, Southampton, Crystal Palace, West Brom, Watford and Newcastle.

"There was no secret, no magic system, no rash of panic signings from all over the world, no excess squad players moping around creating a flat atmosphere".

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes Manchester City should be "walking" their way to the Premier League title.

Vardy is now the Premier League's top goalscorer and equalled Ruud van Nistlerooy's record of scoring in 10-consecutive matches in the 3-0 win at Newcastle on Saturday.

Stan Collymore says that Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Leicester City are similar to his former club Nottingham Forest.

Vardy has also been called up to the English National Team on several occasions, but has yet to record a goal on the global stage. I know them, they have 20,000 fans in the third division.

The hosting Magpies have found the net just once in their last four Premier League outings.

Roberto Martinez's Toffees managed two 2-2 draws with Leicester last season.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's progress under the new Jurgen Klopp regime has been well-documented, and one that secured Leicester's place at the top of the table for at least a week.

"However, by about February or March, you got to a point where you were looking at Jamie Vardy and you were seeing a big improvement happening".

Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho fired 13 places up the charts to No 3 after the Brazilian scored and dismantled Manchester City during the Reds' 4-1 victory at the Ethiad on Saturday.

We wouldn't be talking about Leicester seat on the perch had Manchester City taken care of business against Liverpool.

The result ended a run of three matches without defeat for the visiting Hammers at White Hart Lane. Whether they remain top come 2016 is hard to gauge, but they will still be in the thereabouts.