Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has questioned the long-term future of Daniel Sturridge at the club.
Sturridge has made just three Premier League starts this season and is yet to score in the top flight, with Roberto Firmino often being preferred in a central striking role.
Carragher is confident that the England international will feature during Monday's match against Manchester United at Anfield, but does not believe that the forward would make it into Jurgen Klopp's first-choice starting lineup.
"I think when Jurgen Klopp picks his best team – when everyone's fit – I don't think Sturridge is in it, at this moment. I think Daniel may play on Monday because of a few injuries and Firmino may play out wide and Coutinho may play central, that was the situation at Swansea and Liverpool won," he told talkSPORT.
"But when everyone's fit and firing, I don't think he quite gets in the XI. When he doesn't, I think it's [been] proven at the end of last season at times, and even this season on the back of a great win at Chelsea. I think there was a home game a week later and he wasn't involved – having been part of a victory at Chelsea – I think that shows that [Sturridge is not in Klopp's best team].
"I think Daniel's goal scoring record alone is fantastic – he would walk into most teams – but Jurgen Klopp wants a lot more than just scoring goals from his attacking players. He wants work rate, players coming back to help the team. I think Firmino fits that bill for him at this moment in that central role."
Sturridge was left out of the starting lineup in Liverpool's last two games before the international break.
Barney Corkhill
