Daniel Sturridge fitness latest
Liverpool plan to carefully monitor Daniel Sturridge's fitness for the remainder of the season to ensure that the striker can make the most of his prolific talent in the long-term at Anfield.
The No.15 is currently sidelined with a hip issue, forcing him to sit out the past three fixtures against Newcastle United, Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion.
Brendan Rodgers is now preparing the Reds for a trip to Hull City in the Barclays Premier League on Tuesday night, and was asked about Sturridge at his match preview.
The manager explained how the club will put the Englishman's well-being first in the search for solutions to maximise the time he can spend out on the pitch again.
"It has been difficult for Daniel, of course," said Rodgers. "Daniel is a good lad who obviously wants to play, wants to be working and helping the team.
"But it has just been one of those seasons for him where he has been very unfortunate and has just missed out. We're just going to have to monitor that day by day and see where he's at.
"When he's been fit he's been brilliant for the team, the key now is to see if we can get him back fit and consistently playing. We'll see if that's going to be this season or the pre-season.
"We'll do what's in the best interests of him; we have to protect Daniel and make sure he's going to be here over the next number of years, playing and playing to the level that we all know he can."