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Jurgen Klopp insists Danny Ings is not for sale as he backed the Liverpool striker to play a key role for the club this season.

The England international was mentioned in the same breath as Christian Benteke and Mario Balotelli - two players destined for the Anfield exit door - when Klopp was discussing his attacking options at Melwood on Friday.

However, Klopp has made it clear that there is no chance of Ings also moving on with the former Burnley frontman set to compete with Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino for a starting role this term.

“It’s not the same situation as the other two (Balotelli and Benteke),” Klopp said.

“We’re counting on Ingsy.”

Ings’ game time has been carefully managed in pre-season after he missed seven months of the 2015/16 campaign with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

But Klopp says that patience has paid off with the 24-year-old in good shape ahead of Sunday’s opening Premier League clash at Arsenal.

“Ingsy is a fantastic boy,” Klopp added.

“He was injured since October last year and he needed time. That’s how it is.

“Now he’s getting better and better. He know himself that in the first two or three weeks of pre-season even though he scored in the games it was too intense for him.

“You couldn’t change it. You couldn’t say ‘come on, today, three steps and then tomorrow, four.’ You have to adapt to the next level.

“In those first three or four weeks we had to rest him a few times. It wasn’t a real reaction of the knee but it was about feeling comfortable.

“Everyone was afraid that something could happen if his muscles were too tired. But now he’s in a really good way.”