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With Liverpool riding high at the top of the Premier League, it’s a side show Jurgen Klopp could do without.

Daniel Sturridge’s Anfield career is once again the subject of speculation amid reports that he wants to move on.

When similar stories have surfaced over the past 12 months, Sturridge has subsequently spoken out to reaffirm his commitment to the Reds. It will be interesting to see whether he does the same on this occasion.

What’s clear is that if Sturridge does indeed want to quit Liverpool then he hasn’t conveyed those thoughts to Klopp.

The Reds certainly aren’t contemplating the prospect of selling Sturridge in January. In fact Klopp is keen to add to his attacking armoury for the second half of the campaign.

With Danny Ings sidelined by a knee injury and Sadio Mane set to be missing for a month due to the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool are assessing their options ahead of the winter window. Selling a frontline striker isn’t part of the plan.

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out that Sturridge, who is under contract until 2019, isn’t particularly enamoured with his current role at Anfield. Why would he be?

Playing second fiddle to Roberto Firmino wasn’t what he had in mind when he declared in pre-season that he wanted to prove he was the most lethal marksman in the Premier League.

Fitter and stronger than at any stage since the 2013/14 campaign, Sturridge was ready to be the main man but found himself relegated to bench duty. He has started just four of 11 league matches and hasn’t scored in the league since April.

There would be something wrong if Sturridge was delighted with his current plight. He should be smarting, it should hurt to be left out. And it does.

Klopp has no complaints. He wants those on the periphery of his squad busting a gut to change their fortunes and he recently spoke about how Sturridge was doing exactly that in training at Melwood.

He said: “After a shooting exercise there are still tears in your eyes when you see it and you are like: ‘F***ing hell! That is unbelievable!’

“Daniel Sturridge is an outstanding player. There is no doubt about this.”

Sturridge hasn’t sulked, he has knuckled down. His match-winning display in the EFL Cup tie against Tottenham, when he scored twice, was followed by an eye-catching cameo after coming off the bench in the 6-1 rout of Watford. He’s a class act. His record of 57 goals in 102 appearances for Liverpool is outstanding.

A parting of the ways may eventually come - but not in January

The debate over his long-term prospects under Klopp will rumble on. Can he really set the tone with his pressing and his movement in the same way as Firmino does? After all Klopp demands so much more than finishing from his No 9.

There could be a time in the future when a parting of the ways is best for everyone, but that time certainly isn’t January.

There are trophies to be won and a title race to remain part of. Saturday’s trip to Southampton kicks off a run of 10 games for Liverpool in the space of six weeks.

(Image: 2016 Getty Images)

It will be their most intense period of the season. It will test the depth of Klopp’s squad.

Sturridge will most definitely be required. Liverpool will need him to lead the charge.

This isn’t a time for distractions. Klopp needs everyone focused on the job in hand.

As his players return to Melwood from international duty over the next 24 hours, Klopp might just remind them of the pact he spoke about with them last summer.

“We have always this agreement,” he said. “Work hard, don’t talk too much, win games.”