Daniel Sturridge will not be risked against Chelsea tomorrow evening if he is not fit, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has explained.
The striker has been out of action with various injury niggles since August, but has now returned to full training and Rodgers is delighted with how he is shaping up.
There is a temptation to rush Sturridge back for tomorrow's League Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with the tie poised at 1-1.
But Rodgers will only throw Sturridge back into action if he feels he is ready and is not in the mood to take any risks with the England international. He did though admit that the striker has been looking in better shape than he was even before he suffered his injury blow.
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"We'll see how he is today", Rodgers replied at a press conference when asked if Sturridge could play against Jose Mourinho's men.
"He had his training session with the team yesterday and he trained very well. And that was as comfortable as he's looked for a long time. Even since before his injury.
"So we'll see how he feels after today.
"We won't risk it [if he’s not ready]."
And Rodgers wants Sturridge himself to feel prepared to return to action.
"We need to make sure he is ready and he feels ready", the Northern Irishman concluded.
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