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Jurgen Klopp insists there was never any chance of Liverpool selling Daniel Sturridge this summer with the striker always key to his plans for this season.

The England international’s future appeared uncertain back in May after another injury-ravaged campaign when he made just 11 starts in all competitions and found himself down the pecking order.

The manager held talks with the 28-year-old but Klopp says the conversation was about how to get the best out of him rather than whether Sturridge needed a fresh start elsewhere.

“Yes, we did (have that chat) and all was good,” Klopp said.

“It was not a talk with him saying ‘when can I go?’ or ‘where can I go?’. Not that talk, but about what we planned for this season.”

Klopp and the club’s medical and sports science staff came up with a plan which was devised to help ensure that Sturridge stays fit and available for longer after three seasons of frustration for the former Chelsea frontman. Since netting 24 goals in the title-challenging campaign of 2013/14, Sturridge has only made a total of 25 Premier League starts.

The Reds boss knows what kind of damage a fully fit Sturridge can do and doesn’t want to over-burden him.

That was the reason Sturridge was rested for the midweek League Cup defeat at Leicester City as he stayed behind at Melwood to train instead.

(Image: OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)

He’s set to be handed a recall when Liverpool return to the King Power Stadium in the Premier League this evening as he looks to score the 100th goal of his club career.

“Daniel is important, not could be, he is important,” Klopp said.

“We decided not to take him to Leicester and that was again a kind of responsible decision.

“We would have taken him, but he would not have started. Maybe he would have had 10 minutes, 30 minutes or extra-time. But then we decided it was better for him to stay here and train twice because he can get better physically. Now he’s in the best moment.

“He’s always getting better because he can train all the time.

“We said we could take Dom Solanke, who could start, and have Ingsy (Danny Ings) on the bench.

“That was a good situation for the squad so Daniel was here with us and that was the only reason for it. We plan with Daniel.”