Daniel Sturridge eases injury fears after Liverpool striker limps off in victory over Bayern Munich
England international chipped in the Reds' third against Bayern Munich but clutched his hamstring before being taken off
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DANIEL STURRIDGE insists he feels fine despite limping off again in Liverpool’s Audi Cup blitz of Bayern.
The injury-ravaged striker, who has made just 25 Premier League starts in three seasons, denies he faces another stint on the treatment table after hurting his thigh scoring the Kop side’s third goal.
He had been on the pitch for only 16 minutes, having replaced record £36million signing Mohamed Salah as a sub in the 63rd minute.
But after the game he eased fears the injury could rule him out of the start of the season.
“It just a little bit of tension kicking off,” the England striker said.
"I've done a lot of running and a lot of work. We train on the morning of the games. I think it's just a bit of fatigue to be honest. I'll be okay.
“I'm feeling great, I've put in a lot of work, I trained a lot in the summer in LA.
"I haven't missed many sessions here, they're looking after me, we have done triple sessions and things like that.
“I've trained nearly every session. I'm feeling the best I've felt for a little while and I'm looking forward to the season and hopefully we can have some success.”
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The sight of Sturridge hobbling back to the dressing room before the final whistle was a familiar one and threatened to take the gloss off an impressive victory for Jurgen Klopp.
The Kop boss said: “I can’t say what will happen with Daniel’s injury.
“He hurt his thigh and he has really prepared well. I hope this is a small injury and he can play again soon.
“His goal was really good and he had a chance before that. You could see how quick he was. It’s a shame, I hope it’s nothing serious.”
Even more bad news for Sturridge, 27, and his bid to regain a starting spot was that Sadio Mane had a storming first half.
Mane made his own comeback — from the knee injury that ruled him out for four months — with 45 minutes in Liverpool’s 3-0 win at Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
Then he battered Bayern by scoring the first and creating the second before coming off at half-time.
It would have delighted ex-Borussia Dortmund boss Klopp, whose team selection showed the rivers of his rivalry with Bayern run deep.
The German fielded his strongest possible line-up for the competition opener against his former club’s bitter foes.
And any notion this would be a run-of-the-mill friendly was dispelled when Bayern midfielder Thiago hobbled off early — the victim of one of many full-bloodied Liverpool challenges.
Mane looked rusty in Berlin but was as sharp as a tack here.
He latched on to a pass from Roberto Firmino and fired Liverpool 1-0 up in the eighth minute.
It would be easy to claim the goal calmed Kop nerves but they set about the hosts in a composed and commanding manner from the off.
Left-back Alberto Moreno went close to another with a 25-yard free-kick which Ulreich did well to tip away — before Mane’s piece of genius.
He had few options but a stunning drag back and flick unlocked the door for Moreno to overlap and put in a cross.
It was parried by Ulreich but only as far as Salah, who headed into an unguarded net from inside the six-yard box.
It was the Egyptian’s fourth goal in five pre-season games since Liverpool splashed out to sign him from Roma.
Despite nine changes at the break, Liverpool continued to dominate and Marko Grujic was unfortunate to have a goal ruled out for offside.
But Sturridge made amends, scoring the third with an audacious lob after Ben Woodburn put him through.
Liverpool will now play Atletico Madrid in today’s final after the Spaniards beat Napoli 2-1 in the earlier semi.