Use your head like Sadio and subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Jurgen Klopp admits he has “no idea” whether Daniel Sturridge will be fit for Liverpool’s Premier League opener at Arsenal.

The England striker missed Saturday’s 4-0 friendly win over Barcelona with a hip problem, and didn’t travel to Germany as the Reds were thrashed by Mainz 05 on Sunday.

The club issued a Tweet prior to the Barcelona game stating that Sturridge’s absence was “precautionary”, but Klopp admitted afterwards that he wasn’t sure if the 26-year-old would be ready for next Sunday’s trip to the Emirates.

Asked for a one word answer on Sturridge’s availability, Klopp replied: “No idea. That’s a two word answer!”

Concerns over Sturridge’s fitness heading into a new season are nothing new for Liverpool supporters. The England frontman has managed just 43 appearances during the last two campaigns, due to a combination of issues.

Klopp already has concerns over a host of other first-teamers, with James Milner and Dejan Lovren suffering problems against Barcelona. Loris Karius, Lucas Leiva, Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez are also sidelined at present, while Joel Matip missed all of the club’s games on their US tour with an ankle issue.

Regardless, Klopp says his team will be ready going into the new campaign.

“I’m always ready,” he said. “We played some games that were very good, others that were less good.

“Barcelona was really good and then we had Mainz, and that is what you need. You have to work and that is all. That is what we are doing.

“We will be ready for the first game next week, for sure. But if Arsenal was the best game of the season for us, there would be something wrong with the season.

“We still have to go on. This is only the first game. We cannot decide the whole season in one game. But we need to be as good as possible. And that is what we will be, 100 per cent.

"But I am not in the mood to say “this is our final shape.”

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The win over Barcelona caught the eye, and in particular the intensity and aggression with which Liverpool pressed the ball. All four of their goals against the La Liga champions were a result of them winning back possession in attacking areas.

“Being aggressive is important in a legal way,” Klopp said. “But when the spaces are too big in midfield then you are always running behind and chasing all over the pitch, but you never get them.

“Of course we need to be aggressive but we need clean challenges. We don’t want to give away free kicks, for example.

“It is part of the development. It is about organisation, it is about formation, it is about winning balls, we don’t talk always about pressing. It is important to defend in one-on-one situations and you cannot do that if the formation is not good.

“In the first half against Barcelona that was problem, we did heavy breathing and lost a grip on the game but then you come back so it is not problem. You don’t always have to perfect, but you always have to come back.

“In the second half we did that, a few changes, freshness and of course it was good. We work a lot on it. The first chance was long ball. We can play long ball but we want to create spaces. That’s it. We want to have the space to play.

“If you always play long balls, you have a problem. You need a mixture.”

Klopp had said on Friday that the game against Barcelona would tell him nothing about his side’s capabilities heading into the season, and he reiterated that view post-match at Wembley.

“It is not the most important sign,” he insisted. “It is not about over-estimating or under-estimating the game, it is about judging them.

“It was good to watch, but don’t start dreaming because we have won against Barcelona. Before the game we didn’t think we were on the level of Barcelona and after the game we don’t think we are higher than them.

“But I always say that any team can be beaten on any day. A few very nice things came together and it was a nice result.”