BR on Daniel plans and Divock's future
Brendan Rodgers has explained how his medical team at Melwood will work closely alongside Daniel Sturridge to map out a programme for the striker to be available consistently upon returning from his latest injury setback.
It was confirmed on Wednesday that the prolific 25-year-old had suffered a new thigh injury in training as he neared a comeback from two different problems that have ruled him out of action since August 31.
At a press conference today, the manager reported the significant disappointment felt by all concerned regarding the situation - and none more so than Sturridge himself, who has struck 36 goals in 52 games for the club.
Simultaneously, however, Rodgers outlined the plans that will be put in place to maximise the forward's time on the field in the future, ensuring that both the player and the team can benefit from his 'world-class talent'.
"He has just been extremely unfortunate - last time he played was August," said the Northern Irishman when quizzed on the matter by reporters gathered at Melwood.
"He is a player that doesn't want to be out for this length of time; with his ability and all the qualities that he has, he wants to be playing football.
"Now is the time for him to go away and us as a football club to go away, to see what more we can do to get him onto the pitch consistently because he is a world-class talent.
"He'll only fulfil that if he's playing games, but there's nobody who wants that more than Daniel. He wants to be working and wants to be playing.
"We need to look to hopefully find the answers that are going to allow him, over a consistent period of time, to perform here at Liverpool.
"We're going to look across his time as a player, and a young player, to see where we can find ways to get him out there playing. He is a joy to work with.
"I find him a brilliant young man who is very professional in terms of his outlook. He wants to do the very best he can and there's nobody more frustrated than him at this moment in time.
"Hopefully in this adverse moment for him, we can all look at it and find a way that allows a programme over a period of time for him to play, train and fulfil that huge potential that he has."
Rodgers was also asked if an attempt to recall Belgium international Divock Origi, signed by Liverpool in the summer but immediately loaned back to Lille as part of the deal, was under consideration.
"It was never the case," was his unequivocal response. "It was always on the understanding, and there was no discussion, that he had to stay at Lille.
"I've seen reports about him maybe coming back early, but that was never the case. We signed the player and it was one of the main reasons that we were able to sign the player - that he would have to stay at Lille for this season.
"There has been a lot of speculation about him coming back, but I've never felt that was the case. He is a young player that we identified as a talent.
"The deal was in place quite clearly and simply in the summer that he would stay at Lille for the season and then we would get him next season. As far as I'm concerned, at this point in time, that's still the case."