Sturridge, Milner face fitness race for Arsenal match
Liverpool duo Daniel Sturridge and James Milner are both questionable for Sunday's Premier League opener at Arsenal.
Sturridge, 26, is hampered by a hip injury that saw the England international miss Liverpool's final two preseason tune-ups against Barcelona and Mainz.
The hip ailment is just the latest setback for the goal-machine, as injuries have stalled his promising career, a cause for concern among Liverpool supporters.
The same injury saw Sturridge miss all but a dozen league matches in 2014-15, forcing the Manchester City academy product to seek treatment in the United States.
Pressed for a one-word response concerning Sturridge's status after the 4-0 defeat to Mainz, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told reporters, "No idea. That's a two-word answer!"
"On Wednesday he could train. On Thursday, he felt it a little bit so we will have to see," Klopp added, speaking to the team's official website Friday.
If the German gaffer can afford injuries to any specific position, it's in attacking spots. The acquisition of Sadio Mane has added depth to the likes of Sturridge, Roberto Firmino, Christian Benteke, Divock Origi, and Danny Ings.
Like Sturridge, Milner, 30, faces a race for fitness ahead of the north London tilt, after a heel problem forced him off in the opening interval of the 4-0 drubbing of Barcelona.
Klopp: "It's possible Milner could be involved at the weekend, but we're not sure." #LFC
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 12, 2016
"With Millie we have to wait. It's better than we all expected after the game when we saw him walking out of the stadium on crutches - that's not the best picture you want to see after a game," Klopp said.
"We will take no risk at the moment, we have to wait until everybody says we can go on and that's what we'll do."
Liverpool travels to the Emirates Stadium Sunday, before paying Burnley and Tottenham visits in consecutive weeks as the Merseysiders start the season with an unconventional trio of fixtures away from home.