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Jurgen Klopp has revealed Daniel Sturridge’s current training programme is the most intensive of his three-year Liverpool career.

But the Reds boss insists he will not rush the striker back into his starting line-up despite the player’s own declaration that he is “good to go”.

Sturridge was at Anfield on Boxing Day as Liverpool beat Premier League leaders Leicester City thanks to Christian Benteke’s sixth goal of the season.

The win moved the Reds up to eighth place in the Premier League although still five points behind Spurs in the fourth Champions League position.

After the game Sturridge, 26, tweeted: “Perfect gift for Christmas from the boys getting a win.

“On a side note I’m back training and good to go!!”

But while the prolific striker – 44 goals in his 73 Liverpool games – may feel he’s ready to go, his manager is considerably more cautious.

Last week Klopp revealed that Sturridge was going through “a little pre-season” and the German is adamant that the time for rushing the striker back have gone.

Asked about Sturridge’s statement, Klopp said: “I think it’s absolutely the same thing that Daniel said four weeks ago.

“And then we let him play and then you ask him and he will say this. I know he is ready - that’s good.

“Now he has to train, we cannot change the situation. We have to train now with him.

“Last week and this week are the most intensive weeks for Daniel Sturridge for the last three years. So you can see what we have to do.”

The Liverpool manager has even revealed how he does not even want to watch Sturridge in training – because his qualities might tempt him to bring him back early.

“I don’t want to see him in training because everybody knows you go ‘oh my god, come on, bring him’. That’s his quality.

“But we have to be really, really patient in this moment, we have to wait, we have to train, we have to give the body the right information, and then he can go.

“If we do this, then maybe we can change something or we will be here talking about Daniel Sturridge for the next 10 years.

“This is a good moment to try to change something.”

Sturridge played in Brendan Rodgers’ last game in the Merseyside derby in early October but has been dogged by niggles since Klopp took over.

The England international has made just one start in that time, scoring two superb goals in the Capital One Cup quarter-final at Southampton, while also appearing as a substitute in the Premier League games against Swansea and Newcastle.

It was in the latter game at St James’ Park where he picked up the hamstring strain from which he is currently recovering.