Jurgen Klopp faces Daniel Sturridge fitness dilemma ahead of Manchester City clash... as Liverpool boss welcomes Steven Gerrard back to train

• Daniel Sturridge not 100 per cent fit but could feature at Manchester City
• Striker back in training but Jurgen Klopp says he must up long-term fitness
• Klopp: 'Sometimes five minutes are enough... I decide this tomorrow'
• Raheem Sterling will play against Liverpool for first time since leaving
• Klopp: 'He had a good time here, good boy, good lad. No bad words'
• Read: Christian Benteke can be the new Robert Lewandowski at Liverpool

By Dominic King for the Daily Mail

Published: 08:54 EST, 19 November 2015 | Updated: 17:29 EST, 19 November 2015

Jurgen Klopp is facing the biggest dilemma in his Liverpool reign as he decides how best to re-launch Daniel Sturridge's season.

The England international has said he is 'fit and ready to go' for the first time under Klopp, having been sidelined since he damaged his knee on October 16 following a training ground collision with Jordon Ibe.

Sturridge completed his first full contact training session on Tuesday and has taken part in every session since without problem but Klopp is mindful ahead of Saturday's clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium that the 26-year-old is significantly short of match fitness.  

Daniel Sturridge poses for a photo in training as he waits to find out whether he will face his former club

Sturridge could feature against his old club Manchester City on Saturday despite not being 100 per cent fit

Jurgen Klopp briefs his Liverpool players during Thursday's training ahead of their vist to Manchester City

Klopp said he would make the decision whether to pick Sturridge on Friday

Klopp said: 'I will decide this tomorrow. He has been out for five weeks and hasn't trained much'

The Liverpool players warm up with a gentle jog at Melwood ahead of their clash with table-topping City

Klopp does, however, have a quandary. He knows Sturridge has the class to transform Liverpool's team and he must decide whether to take the risk by using him as an impact substitute or leave him on the sidelines. The German will only make the call after a final training session at Melwood.

'He is as fit as he can be after this long break,' said Klopp. 'Of course he is not at 100 per cent and now we have to see. I have to think about it. His quality is outstanding, but everyone needs training. (Thursday) was the third full exercise with the team after five weeks break. 

'As a striker sometimes five minutes are enough. We need to see. The problem with Daniel's quality is it is obvious. When you see it in training you think 'right, nice!' but we have to think about it. He has to train that is for sure because (he has) four and a half weeks out.

'I'm not sure Liverpool has that long a break in the summer. So for four and a half weeks he couldn't train, he wasn't cycling and running, so because he is such a skilled guy after a few minutes you think maybe we should.' 

Sturridge and Jordan Ibe have both returned to Liverpool training this week

Jordan Henderson also took part in part of the session but Klopp said he would return to full training next week

Martin Skrtel (right) and Philippe Coutinho laugh in training as they take part in a drill together

Klopp also spoke about former Liverpool star Raheem Sterling who will face his old side for the first time

The Liverpool manager said: 'I don't know how many friends Raheem has here but he's good player'

Sturridge has barely played this season but showed his quality remains when he scored two goals in the 3-2 win over Aston Villa on September 26 and Klopp added: 'Everyone wants to see more of him on the pitch but we have to find the right balance and we will see.'

Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard returned to Melwood on Wednesday and met with Klopp in person for the first time for an informal chat. The LA Galaxy midfielder will use his old club's facilities to get himself ready for MLS pre-season in January but he is currently on down time.

'He has not that much holiday after he left Liverpool to go to LA,' said Klopp, who received a good luck message from Gerrard before his first game at Tottenham last month. 'He is a really, really good person. I enjoyed out time together and we spoke about many things. 

Klopp brought up his record against Manchester City: 'I played them with Dortmund and never lost'

Skrtel (right) and Coutinho (left) run in training as Sturridge (centre) can be seen in the background

Sturridge (right) sprints alongside Roberto Firmino as the forwards prepare for the trip to Manchester

Kolo Toure (right) chases Nathaniel Clyne as the Liverpool defenders take part in a drill

Klopp put his arm round Clyne as the pair share a joke at Melwood training ground

Jose Enrique flicks the ball past Joao Teixeira as the Liverpool players play keep-ball in training

Klopp played down the significance of Steling's first game against his old side since moving to Manchester

'He doesn't want to play next week or train next week. If he wants to train, of course, he can no question. He can use Melwood as it and then go back to LA and train and play. Then it (what happens in the future) is really far away.'

It was reported in Germany this week that Liverpool had made a £10million bid for Schalke's Leroy Sane but that is not the case. Klopp is continuing to assess the squad he has inherited but is in no hurry to make decision about what he may or may not need in January.

'In this moment we have made no decisions because we don't have to make them yet,' said Klopp. 'We have time and we will see what is possible and what is not possible. We will see what's necessary and what's not necessary. That's how we work.'

Steven Gerrard has returned home and will train at Melwood during the MLS off season

(Left to right) Cristian Benteke, Coutinho and Sturridge line up ahead of Thursday's training session

Sturridge controls the ball with James Milner, who has also just returned from injury, behind him

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