Sturridge has been a virtual ever-present in the treatment
room in recent years and has made just six appearances this season, the latest
at the start of December.
Klopp was reluctant to discuss the 26-year-old’s fitness
issues ahead of last weekend’s clash with Manchester United, with the Reds boss giving no
indication of when he will return to action.
But Anfield legend Dietmar Hamann believes his fellow German is
deliberately - and wrongly - keeping supporters in the dark over Sturridge’s
ongoing issues, which he is convinced are more psychological than
physical.
The Champions League winner, a former teammate of
Sturridge’s at Manchester City,
told talkSPORT: “The club has got a responsibility to tell the paying
public what is wrong with him.
"If he has got a hamstring injury, an ankle injury, or
whatever he may have, the people who pay for a season ticket have got a
right to know what is wrong with him.
"Judging by the way Jurgen Klopp answered his questions [ahead of the
Man United game] I don't think there is too much wrong with the player.
“If there is nothing wrong with him, it is more
important to be honest and truthful with the paying public than to
protect a player who has hardly played in the last 18 months, who seems to
choose when he wants to play.
“He has got three years left on his contract and I don’t see
any reason, if there is nothing wrong with the player, why the club should
protect him.”
In November, Klopp alluded to the idea that Sturridge’s
problems could be more mental than physical, telling reporters the England international must learn the
difference between “serious pain and what is only pain”.
Hamann was in the Manchester City side when Sturridge made
his senior debut as a 17-year-old, and he claims it was evident in the early
part of his career that the talented hitman was not willing to push
himself through the pain barrier.
“There was always something wrong with him on the Thursday
or the Friday. His back, his hamstring, there was always
something," added Hamann.
“If you look at his record since he has played professional football he probably doesn’t average half the
games a season - and it has got worse at Liverpool.
“I am not saying he is pretending to be injured, I’m not
sure. But if he is injured, say it. Nobody knows what is going on with him.
“People have spent £800 or £1000 to watch Liverpool at home
and sometimes even away and the star player is not playing and nobody knows
where he is.
“If there isn’t a problem with him, then it is time to stop
protecting the player.”
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