Jürgen Klopp is considering a major selection call on his return to Borussia Dortmund by omitting Daniel Sturridge from Liverpool’s starting lineup for Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final.
Sturridge was replaced by Divock Origi in the 72nd minute of Liverpool’s draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and the 20-year-old may retain his place at the England international’s expense. Liverpool’s leading striker was subdued throughout the 1-1 draw at Anfield, with Klopp explaining after the game that: “We needed ways behind the line. We needed Divock’s physical strength so I changed.”
The Liverpool manager is debating whether to continue with the Belgium international as the focal point of his attack against Dortmund and naming Sturridge among the substitutes. The 26-year-old has scored three goals in nine appearances for Liverpool since returning from injury in February and has started the past four games.
He has not started five consecutive games since April 2014 and his hopes of matching that run on Thursday have been jeopardised by the poor display against Spurs. The striker failed to hide his disappointment at Klopp’s decision on Saturday and was involved in a heated exchange with a supporter following his substitution.
With Christian Benteke and Danny Ings injured, and Roberto Firmino recovering from a hamstring problem, Sturridge is the most established striker available to Klopp against Dortmund. Roy Hodgson, the England manager, has warned the forward he needs to be playing regularly to secure a place at the European Championship and a demotion in the Europa League quarter-final would represent a worrying development for Sturridge.
