The Liverpool No.15 scored his fourth goal of the season in stunning fashion at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, swerving an 89th-minute effort into the top corner from 25 yards to rescue a 1-1 draw.
The strike, Sturridge’s 50th in the Premier League for the Reds, came just moments after he had been introduced as a substitute during the closing stages of an enthralling clash.
It also followed an emphatic volley against the same opponents in midweek and the Englishman has already surpassed his goal tally last term for the club.
“Thank God he is here,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com after the game.
“It would be really unlucky for both sides if he was not; he is in the best shape since I’ve known him, since we’ve worked together. Before that, he was in fantastic shape.
“He was always a bit unlucky with injuries and stuff like that; that’s how it is, timing in life is pretty important. Now, the timing is perfect. We need him desperately and he is fit. He is so fit – the fittest Daniel I have known. So, all good.”
Watch: Sturridge's stunning goal
The Reds had threatened to level the score in west London on several occasions before Sturridge’s special moment, with Xherdan Shaqiri and Roberto Firmino on the end of promising chances in the second half.
Klopp insisted the equaliser was only what his team deserved for the standard of their football against another side who are unbeaten in the Premier League.
“The boys played a fantastic game, I really liked it,” said the manager.
“To work hard and be absolutely lively in the highest energy in all these defending moments, and then when you have the ball to play around, create gaps, play through the lines and over the lines, come into the box, have the situations, make cut-backs, be there for finishing, that’s great. The only problem is we didn’t finish.
“But that’s all and we will finish again, there’s no doubt about that. We are a good football team and I’m really happy we proved that again. And we got a point in a very difficult game against a good side.”
Klopp also praised goalkeeper Alisson Becker for an impressive display highlighted by two saves in one-on-one situations – from Willian and Eden Hazard – that prevented Liverpool’s deficit from increasing.
LFCTV GO: Alisson's crucial saves v Chelsea
“It was good, it helps massively,” he said.
“These set-pieces at the end of the game are quite annoying and when they come in, you think, ‘Woah, another corner.’ Then when you see the goalkeeper flying in between a lot of players in blue shirts and using his gloves and fists, it’s really cool. So I’m happy about that.”