• Premier League

Daniel Sturridge faces fitness race to play against Arsenal

Liverpool will give Daniel Sturridge a chance to prove he can overcome a thigh injury and play in Saturday's Premier League match at Arsenal.

The club's medical staff have looked at the problem and feel that he could play against Arsenal, sources have told ESPN. However, he will not be risked if manager Brendan Rodgers feels that there is a danger of aggravating the injury.

Sturridge withdrew from the England squad for matches against Lithuania and Italy after tearing a hip muscle. The 25-year-old suffered the injury during Liverpool's 2-1 Premier League defeat at home to Manchester United on March 22.

He reported at England's training camp the following day to be assessed, with scans showing the seriousness of the injury.

Rodgers' side go into the game lying fifth in the Premier League, five points behind Manchester United in fourth, and six adrift of the Arsenal in third.

Sturridge has been beset by injuries this season, beginning with a thigh problem suffered during an England training session on September 5.

He was close to a comeback when he then sustained a calf problem during a Liverpool practice session on October 16, and a second thigh injury while training with his club on November 18.

Those three injuries kept Sturridge out of action for almost five months, and he did not return until the Liverpool's Premier League home match against West Ham on January 31, scoring in a 2-0 win.

Winger Raheem Sterling, meanwhile, will be available for the match against Arsenal despite a toe injury. Sterling was given permission to miss England's friendly against Italy in Turin on Tuesday, having played as Lithuania were beaten 4-0 in a Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley last Friday.

But despite the toe injury, which has been troubling him in recent weeks, the 20-year-old is set to train as normal with his club this week.

This article originally appeared on ESPN FC

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