Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has explained why it 'made sense' to start Divock Origi instead of Daniel Sturridge in last night's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Borussia Dortmund.
The England international, who has had an injury-plagued season, was left on the bench at Westfalenstadion on Thursday night.
Origi has had limited starts in the first team, but he proved to his manager that he was right to select him as the Belgian scored what could be a crucial away goal in a 1-1 draw.
Sturridge made a cameo appearance in Germany, but Klopp has suggested that he will start in this weekend's Premier League match against Stoke City at Anfield.
"We thought it would make sense to start with Divock - it's nothing about Daniel," Klopp told reporters. "Daniel played the last few games. It's completely normal, a completely normal thing in football. Now he is fresh and can play against Stoke, that's good for us.
"He came in and immediately had a brilliant moment. You could see how strong he is in one second. Nobody can say what would have happened if we had started with Daniel, maybe we would have been better, I don't know, but it was a decision."
Sturridge has played 17 games in all competitions this season.
Danielle Joynson
