Jurgen Klopp insists Daniel Sturridge still has an important part to play for Liverpool as he dismissed talk of selling the striker in the January transfer window.

The England frontman’s future is once again the subject of speculation after being left on the bench for the recent wins over West Ham and Southampton.

Klopp appreciates that was tough for Sturridge to take considering he scored in the two previous victories over Huddersfield and Maribor.

However, the Reds boss says Sturridge, whose lack of game time cost him his place in the England squad, will get opportunities over the coming weeks and he’s not contemplating off-loading him.

“It’s a story. But actually I am not really interested in stories,” Klopp said.

pre-match press conference in full

“The situation with the player is completely okay.

“I can imagine a player with his quality is not happy that he is not starting all the time. I really can imagine that. But that’s all.

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“At this moment we need all our players. We have November, even if he feels a little different.

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“There is around one-and-a-half months to go before the window opens and I don’t think for a second about things like this. There are so many games before then and I need all of them.”

Sturridge is likely to find himself on the bench once again for Tuesday night’s Champions League clash away to Sevilla.