Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said that Daniel Sturridge is in the best shape since he arrived at the club and believes that the striker is ready to move to the "next level".
A string of injuries had seen Sturridge fall down the pecking order under Klopp at Anfield, and the England international was widely expected to leave the club this summer having made just seven Premier League starts last season.
However, Klopp has been impressed with Sturridge's attitude and fitness during pre-season so far and suggested that the striker will stay after all.
"What I can say is that he's here, he's training and this is 100% the best face since we got together. Did you see him train? He is really digging in and giving everything. He's reaching for the next level, a new physical level and that's really good news," he told reporters.
"We don't have to talk about what a difference he could make, everybody knows about it. We just need to have it. We need him fit. There will be different opportunities in different games. We need a lot of options - different players with different styles of play.
"We always need to be quick but when we can't be quick we need to be patient. All that stuff. I am really looking forward to it but I am happy that we still have a few weeks to train together and improve together."
Sturridge has featured in all four of Liverpool's pre-season friendlies so far.
Barney Corkhill
