Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp continues to play a patient game with Daniel Sturridge and insists the striker must prove he is more “robust” before he is fully thrown back into first-team action.

The 26-year-old was on the bench for Saturday’s 4-1 win at Manchester City, the first time he has featured in a matchday squad for the German, but that does not mean he will get a run-out in the Europa League at home to Bordeaux today.

Klopp has stressed the need for the England international to prove he will not suffer any more injury breakdowns, having seen last season decimated by thigh and calf problems which resulted in a hip operation in May.

His latest issue was a knock to his knee in training and, while he has recovered from that, it does not mean an instant return to the starting line-up.

“Daniel is coming closer and closer so he can train now seven or eight times in a row – that is the longest period since I’ve been here – and that will help him and in the end help us,” Klopp said.

“My decision you will see (today) but it is closer and that is very good.

“The most important thing in these weeks is he can train without problems. We have to try to bring in a situation where he is more robust.

“If he is feeling in a good moment maybe a few minutes – or more – we will see in the game.”

Christian Benteke, a late substitute against Man. City, could also appear in a game in which victory will qualify Liverpool for the next stage of the competition.

“We are in a good way to play better at home, we are creating chances,” said Klopp, who does not want supporters to make too much of having lost the last game at Anfield 2-1 to Crystal Palace.

“We should not make a bigger point of (home form) than it is, what we need to do is develop the performance,” he said.

“(There were) brilliant mo-ments against Man. City but we were far away from perfect. Many things we can do better when we train more often together.”

Group A
Playing today: 21.05 Celtic vs Ajax; Molde vs Fenerbahce.

Standings: Molde 10; Fenerbahce 5; Ajax 3; Celtic 2.

Group B
17.00 Rubin Kazan vs Sion.
21.05 Liverpool vs Bordeaux.

Standings: Sion 8; Liverpool 6; Bordeaux 3; Rubin Kazan 2.

Group C
17.00 FC Krasnodar vs B. Dortmund.
21.05 PAOK vs FK Qabala.

Standings: B. Dortmund 10; FC Krasnodar 7; PAOK 3; FK Qabala 1.

Group D
21.05 Club Brugge vs Napoli; Legia Warsaw vs FC Midtjylland.

Standings: Napoli 12; FC Midtjylland 6; Club Brugge 4; Legia Warsaw 1.

Group E
17.00 Dinamo Minsk vs V. Plzen.
21.05 Villarreal vs Rapid Wien.

Standings: Rapid Vienna 12; Villarreal 9; V. Plzen 3; Dinamo Minsk 0.

Group F
21.05 Braga vs Liberec; Marseille vs FC Groningen.

Standings: Braga 9; Slovan Liberec 7; Marseille 6; FC Groningen 1.

Group G
19.00 Lazio vs Dnipro; Rosenborg vs Saint-Etienne.

Standings: Lazio 10; Saint-Etienne 7; Dnipro 4; Rosenborg 1.

Group H
19.00 Besiktas vs Skenderbeu; Lok. Moscow vs Sporting Lisbon.

Standings: Lok. Moscow 8; Besiktas 6; S. Lisbon 4; Skenderbeu 3.

Group I
19.00 Basel vs Fiorentina; Belenenses vs Lech Poznan.

Standings: Basel 9; Fiorentina 6; Lech Poznan, Belenenses 4.

Group J
19.00 Monaco vs Anderlecht; Qara-bag FK vs Tottenham.

Standings: Tottenham 7; Monaco 6; Anderlecht, Qarabag FK 4.

Group K
19.00 Schalke vs APOEL Nicosia; Sparta Prague vs Asteras Tripolis.

Standings: Schalke 8; Sparta Prague 6; Asteras 4; APOEL 3.

Group L
19.00 AZ Alkmaar vs Partizan; Augsburg vs Athletic Bilbao.

Standings: A. Bilbao 9; Augsburg, Partizan 6; AZ Alkmaar 3.

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