• League Cup

Sturridge fitness to be assessed ahead of Chelsea clash

ESPN staff
January 25, 2015
Brendan Rodgers keen to move on from Steven Gerrard exit

Brendan Rodgers says Daniel Sturridge could return from injury to face Chelsea on Tuesday - but if not then next Saturday's Premier League game with West Ham is a definite.

Sturridge has been sidelined since the end of August with a thigh injury, but will return to training on Sunday.

And Rodgers said Sturridge's status for Tuesday's League Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge will depend on how he performs in the 48 hours before the match.

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"Now it is just about getting that condition with football fitness and game fitness," Rodgers said after Liverpool's goalless FA Cup draw with Bolton.

"We will see how he is for Tuesday but if he is not ready for Tuesday he will be back for sure against West Ham next weekend."

Liverpool, currently eighth in the Premier League, host West Ham on Saturday and could use Sturridge back to boost an attack that has scored fewer goals than all the teams above them in the table.

"He's at a real good level in terms of his fitness at the moment," Rodgers told BT Sport. "He completed his final rehabilitation with the medical and sports science guys today, so he'll be ready for the West Ham game - whether he starts or not will depend closer to the time.

"We'll see if we can get him back for the Chelsea game in midweek, too."

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