Jürgen Klopp has confirmed Daniel Sturridge will again be absent when Liverpool host Bournemouth in his first Capital One Cup tie on Wednesday.
The striker has not featured for Klopp having injured a knee in a training-ground collision with Jordon Ibe ahead of the draw at Tottenham Hotspur, a knock that resulted in a buildup of fluid around the joint.
Sturridge has not resumed full training before the fourth-round tie with Eddie Howe’s team at Anfield and will miss the new manager’s fourth match in charge.
“It’s getting better but not quick enough to change the situation for us,” said Klopp on Tuesday. “I saw him five minutes ago with Chris [Morgan, the Liverpool physio] in the gym but he’s not up to normal football training so we will have to wait.”
The German coach is still seeking his first win as Liverpool manager after three draws but insists the team have made encouraging progress since his arrival. “I’m surprised how big the steps are that we have taken,” he claimed. “Everyone can see the results – they haven’t been the most satisfying in the world but we didn’t lose and we’ve not had the easiest of opponents. Spurs away, Rubin Kazan after only a short time together and then Southampton, who hadn’t lost away this season. I have no problem with this and I didn’t think it would go quicker.
“Usually if you come to a new club you have more time but if not you have to accept the hard way to go. We haven’t had any friendly games to get better but three games in difficult competitions. My faith in this team is really big. There’s a really good working atmosphere in this squad. If someone wanted it quicker or faster then I am sorry, but it’s important we find a way to win in the future and know why, know how to make this or that better. That’s important, but it’s hard.”
The Liverpool manager will be without the suspended James Milner on Wednesday and promised to make several changes due to the team’s recent hectic schedule, not as a slight on the Capital One Cup. “It’s the most important cup in the world because it’s the only cup we play in tomorrow,” he said. “We have to change the team a little bit but at this moment I don’t know how many. I will make changes not because the tournament isn’t important but because I want to win the game. Bournemouth is my first game in this cup and very important, but we’ve had three games in last eight, nine days so we have to change.
“We have injured players, suspended players, little problems where we don’t want to risk people. But we have to wait for that information until tomorrow morning. But I really want to win and that’s why I will make changes.”
