Rodgers: It'll take time for Sturridge
Daniel Sturridge will be given the necessary time to recover fully and ensure that the prolific striker can carry his goalscoring talent onto the field as much as possible for Liverpool.
The 25-year-old has been back in training at Melwood this week, continuing a meticulous programme of rehabilitation that included a prolonged stay in the United States last month.
Brendan Rodgers has been denied the services of the No.15, whose record with the Reds shows 36 goals in 52 appearances, since the 3-0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur back in August due to injury.
There will be no rushing Sturridge's return to action, however, with the manager keen to utilise the most productive methods of clocking up maximum game time for the Englishman.
"It will take him time," Rodgers commented. "First he has to get fit, generally. Fortunately enough his body allows him, he's a naturally fit player.
"He proved that last year when he came back without much of a pre-season and did very well. But there's match fitness, football fitness, so it will take a bit of time.
"Just having him on the field to begin with will be critical to the team because I think his threat is obvious. It's the only way we will get him back up to speed."
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On the issues that have thwarted Sturridge's availability this season, the Northern Irishman continued: "It's been our job over the last number of months to find that solution for him.
"We have called in experts from different parts of the world, so we are hoping it will allow him to stay fit for longer and a more consistent period. Let's hope that will be the case.
"You look at when he first came here for half a season, and the next, and that was the first time he had been playing consistent, regular football. Mechanically, that has meant he's picked up injuries.
"But hopefully in future all the work we have done, and all he will have learned, means we will support him, keeping him fit and have him available for selection."