Jurgen Klopp has praised Danny Ings for his attitude through what has been a difficult year after he spent most of it on the sidelines because of injuries.
The Liverpool gaffer took some time in his pre-match press conference on Monday to speak about Ings’s return from injury, his recent form with the U-23s and his involvement in the first team squad for their EFL Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur. Ings was having a decent first season at Anfield, scoring 3 goals in 9 appearances for the club, before injuring his ACL in October last year, mere days after the arrival of Klopp.
The manager insisted that he was extremely pleased with the way the former Burnley man has taken his long term injury in his stride and fought his way back to full fitness, saying, “It is really good. If I could be a little bit less sensitive I could say that’s his job to do, but I am sensitive and so I know it is not easy but he takes the situation in a perfect way – but that is all for him.”
Ings’ has only featured once this term for the senior squad, as a second half substitute in Liverpool’s EFL Cup tie against Derby County where they went on to win 3-0. He has played for the Liverpool U-23s a lot in a bid to recover match fitness, where he has found the net 7 times. But there is a strong competition for places within the first team squad, with Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi all ahead of him in the pecking order.
“In this moment, the situation is not too easy,” Klopp said. “We have Roberto, Daniel and Divock, so there is not a lot of space for the few minutes you could give.”
However, he insisted that Ings would be involved in the squad against Tottenham Hotspur, saying, “What I can say is he will be involved in the squad for tomorrow 100 per cent and all the rest, we have to see.” Klopp went on to say, “I think we are completely clear about the way and about the things he has to do. He is a nice guy, a wonderful player, that’s all good but that’s a sign of the strength of the squad.”
He went on to say that one could be a very good player, but still not feature for the first team squad at Liverpool, and that was the sign of strength at the club.
