Jurgen Klopp: Joe Allen “very important” to Liverpool

Liverpool are one of only two clubs to have beaten Leicester in the league to date, so Tuesday s game gives Claudio Ranieri s men an opportunity to avenge that defeat in December and offer further proof of their title credentials.

Liverpool have only won one of their last four FA Cup games against fellow top-flight opposition, and are yet to beat a Premier League team at Anfield in 2016.

The Liverpool manager insisted that Sturridge needed to complete several sessions with him before returning to the first-team.

Klopp has been able to utlise the talents of Brad Smith, Cameron Brannagan, Joao Teixeira and Kevin Stewart among others in their cup run, with Teixeria and Brannagan taking the plaudits on Saturday against West Ham. With that being said, the kids held their own against a side that’s in good form and if they’re called on to do it again at Upton Park, there’s no reason to think that they won’t be up to the challenge.

“He is going to play in the Cup as he is a great goalkeeper, he deserves to have these games, he never lets us down and I knew it, day in and day out he shows that in training, it was a great double save. That doesn’t work so there’s no alternative for us”.

“Closer”, Klopp responded when pressed about the health of a few guys on his roster. We broke all records. In this moment the draw doesn’t feel too brilliant, but when we go to West Ham, we will see the chance to go into the next round again.

Klopp regards Allen as an integral part of this Liverpool squad.

Jurgen Klopp made a number of changes from the side the defeated Stoke City in the week, with the likes of Christian Benteke, Luis Enrique, Jordon Ibe and Joe Allen all earning recalls. The Liverpool boss concluded saying that at present we must all admit “he is in really good shape“.

“The games are more intensive and sometimes the other teams are coming with a week’s break when you have only had three days and that makes a big difference”.

It has though been reported that the deal is set to be scooped up by Sevilla, who are eager to get the player on loan until the end of the season. We can talk about how good Joel Matip was on Football Manager a couple of years ago, a full five months before Liverpool sign him up in the summer.