Klopp to reward Ings with game time against Tottenham

Matt Stead

Jurgen Klopp is expected to reward Danny Ings’ positive performances in training with a game in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

Liverpool face Tottenham in the fourth round of the competition on Tuesday, and Klopp will hand Ings an opportunity to impress at Anfield.

The striker has suffered from injuries since joining the club from Burnley in summer 2015, missing most of last season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

He has been afforded fewer than 30 minutes of first-team action this season as the club have started excellently, and Ings has found himself behind Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi in the pecking order.

However, Ings will feature against Tottenham, with Klopp keen to reward his exploits in training and for the Under 23s.

“It’s really good,” the manager said. “If I was being a little less sensitive I could say that is his job to do, but I am sensitive and I know it is not easy. He takes the situation in a perfect way but it’s all for him.

“But it is all for him. He was a long time injured. He is fit now, everything is good and, with his attitude, all will be good in the end.

“At the moment his situation is not too easy – we have Roberto, Daniel and Divock, so there is not a lot of space – but he will be involved in the squad.

“It was a long-term injury, but now he is fit, he plays in the U23s, everything is good.

“You have to build a squad for different things to do and not just have a third or fourth striker on the bench. He has used the game time.

“As a manager, you have about 25 players so you cannot talk about the individual situation every day.

“I think we are completely clear about the way and the things he needs to do. He is a nice guy and a wonderful player. That’s a sign of the strength of the squad. You can be a really good player and you cannot even be in the squad.

“That is really possible and a sign for the strength of Liverpool FC.”