Daniel Sturridge explains what it’s like to train under Jurgen Klopp.
Without European football this season, Liverpool have been blessed with the gift of time and Jurgen Klopp has seized the opportunity to train his players that bit harder. It’s a markedly different situation when compared to when he took over as Liverpool boss last year as his first game against Spurs came shortly after being appointed. He had barely any time between fixtures to rest his players and then train for the next game and it resulted in multiple injuries.
The amount of time between games that Liverpool have this season seems to be yielding great results with the Merseyside club sitting top of the tree. While the season may have a lot yet to throw at us, there is reason to be optimistic if you’re a Liverpool fan.
If you’re a Liverpool player, however, it hasn’t been a smooth as Liverpool’s fluid attacking football would suggest. Klopp has a reputation for putting his players through intense training sessions and Daniel Sturridge confirmed this after saying that you never want to be the one to make a mistake in training.
“It’s very tactical-based,” the Englishman explained. “I couldn’t tell you the last time we played five-a-side.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
“Maybe the day after a game, the players who didn’t play will go four against four, but we never really have small-sided games.
“We might do a shooting session but there’s a lot else going on with the passing that’s involved. You have to be on point. You need to be focused. You don’t want to be the one who messes it up. It’s very tactical, preparing for the opposition.
“In football, not many clubs do double sessions during the season but we have the opportunity to do it with no Europe and we can use that time.
“The first session is usually a bridge session for the second one. It’s more relaxed. The second session is more intense.”
Sturridge has a cut a very frustrated figure this season with his game time being very limited and has found it very difficult to break into Klopp’s starting XI. Despite staying fit for what must be the longest stretch in his entire career, Sturridge has sat on the bench for most of Liverpool’s Premier League games and hasn’t managed to score a single goal from the bench in the league.
You could argue he has been very unlucky, with a stunning curling effort being tipped onto the crossbar by Costel Pantilimon against Watford on Sunday. I am encouraged by the fact that it is hardly a bad thing that Sturridge is on the bench, though. For the first time in years, Liverpool has genuine strength in depth and with options like Sturridge and Wijnaldum off the bench, the Reds a real handful.
READ MORE: Sturridge needs to take a lead out of Firmino’s book
Liverpool will have a go at extending their unbeaten streak to 13 in all competitions when they travel to Southampton on the 19th of November. Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino face a race against time to make it back in time for the game and it’s quite likely that both will start from the bench to avoid fatigue-induced injuries, so perhaps Sturridge will get a go.
Let us know in the comment section below what you think Daniel Sturridge’s squad role should be.