Jurgen Klopp has decided what Liverpool will do with Daniel Sturridge in January

Posted Friday, December 02, 2016 by ESPN

While Daniel Sturridge may be considering his future at Liverpool, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has already decided it for him.

The 27-year-old has been reduced to a limited role from the bench under the German this campaign, and has yet to score in the Premier League.

Sturridge has hit the net four times for the Reds this campaign, with all of his goals coming in the EFL Cup, against Burton Albion and Tottenham.

That's right, just two goals against top-flight opposition this season. So, in that sense, it's no wonder that Klopp has left him on the bench.

But that's not the real reason why Sturridge has had to cut a glum figure on the sidelines. The brilliance of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane has simply kept him out of the side.

And he's not the only Reds striker that feels he has been forgotten about on the bench, with Belgian striker Divock Origi awaiting his chance to breakthrough into Klopp's starting XI.

However, according to the Mirror, any rumours linking the striker with a move away from Anfield are redundant, as Klopp has no plans of letting any of his players - asides from outcast Mamadou Sakho - leave the club in the January transfer window.

The 49-year-old is adamant he will keep together all of his squad that has helped the club into second place in the Premier League in January - including his fringe players. Asides from the France defender who was sent home from the club's pre-season tour by Klopp.

STUBBORN

Sturridge has featured in nine of Liverpool's 13 league games this season, without breaking his goal drought, while only four of those nine appearances were starts. But Klopp will prove his stubborn resistance to the Hammers in January.

The east London club want to make a statement to their unsettled fans, who have had to endure a depressing start to the campaign at their new stadium, with just 12 points from 13 games and sitting only two places above the relegation zone.

Fans reportedly believe the club should listen to offers of around £25 million for Sturridge, while West Ham are in desperate need of a proven goalscorer.

But Klopp is well aware that his players, who have moved Liverpool to the top of the scoring charts, will be in short supply during the new year, with Mane competing at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal and Coutinho, by then, in his final stages of recovery from an ankle injury.

RECOVERY

The Reds boss can't predict what impact the damage to Coutinho's ankle will have on the Brazilian's form, while Adam Lallana is only just recovering from a groin injury sustained on international duty with England.

It is understood there is more chance of the German adding to his squad, rather than reducing it, with a wide player capable of operating in a front three high on his list of targets.

Sturridge and Lallana should both be fit to face Bournemouth this weekend, with the former expected to be handed more chances by Klopp in the absence of other key players.

The striker has been recovering from a minor calf strain, but should Sturridge get himself back into top shape, his form for Liverpool in recent seasons suggests he will give Klopp a real selection headache going into the new year.