Jurgen Klopp challenges Daniel Sturridge ‘to play high intensity over 95 minutes’

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has challenged Daniel Sturridge to start producing his highest level for 95 minutes of a football match.

The striker came on from the substitute’s bench in the 86th minute against Chelsea and netted the equaliser three minutes later with a wonderful shot swept into the top left corner from 25 yards. It was his third goals in three games, following starts in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, when he was substituted after 72 minutes, and in the EFL Cup defeat to Chelsea, in which he played the entire game.

Klopp laid out his expectation of Sturridge in brutal fashion shortly after taking over at Liverpool in 2015, revealing publicly that he believed the player needed to learn “what is serious pain or what is only pain”. Sturridge, 29, has not reached his full potential over the years due to repeatedly missing spells through injury, but the goal on Saturday was his fourth this season in seven games.

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“That must always be the target, to play high intensity over 95 minutes,” Klopp said following the draw at Stamford Bridge. “We have not tried it yet.

“That is the target. He played fantastic against PSG. Against PSG, that role exactly. High intensity. He played for 60 or 70 minutes but certainly a long time. And he could have played longer – but we had Bobby (Firmino to come on).

“Daniel does not want us to change our style for him. He plays exactly how we want him. He makes moves in the right places and judges situations and scores goals.

“Daniel is a tactical, very, very smart player. He did not have to improve a lot. Since we worked together he had spells that when he was fit, they were not long enough. When he was fit, like in the first season and European league games, stuff like that, Dortmund, he was so decisive and important. Villarreal at home and he scored there. When he was fit, he was always an important part of the team and so he is now.”

Positivity

Klopp took exception to being repeatedly asked about Sturridge following a game which ended Liverpool’s 100 per cent start to the Premier League season but was, nonetheless, a vital point away from home against a Chelsea side who look like title challengers. “Are you all a bit crazy that after a 1-1 at Chelsea only [talk] about Daniel Sturridge. What is the problem?” Klopp half-joked.

So it was left to Liverpool team-mate Virgil Van Dijk to discuss Sturridge’s England prospects, with Gareth Southgate set to announce his squad on Thursday for the upcoming Nations League matches against World Cup finalists Croatia and Spain.

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“Of course (he is good enough), come on,” Van Dijk said. “I don’t think there should be any doubt. But it’s all about the manager, he made the choices, but I know what he’s capable of, how good he can be and when he’s at his best, by playing against him and seeing him in training with the hard work that he puts in and the positivity that he brings as well. But it’s the manager’s choice and I hope for the best for him and that’s the only thing I can say about him.”