Danny Murphy casts doubt over Daniel Sturridge's Liverpool future under Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is likely to be sold by the Anfield club this summer, according to Danny Murphy. The ex-Red midfielder does not believe Sturridge is suited to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's preferred style of play and thinks his days on Merseyside could soon be numbered.

Sturridge, 27, started Liverpool's dull 0-0 draw against Manchester United at Anfield on Monday (17 October), but failed to impress before he was substituted. Murphy revealed he does not think Sturridge will play for Liverpool next season.

"It's a difficult one with Sturridge because I think he's the most talented striker in England the best finisher but the way Klopp wants to play I can't see him being first choice when everybody's fit," Murphy told BBC Five Live of Sturridge's situation at Liverpool.

"He doesn't seem the like the type of lad to sit around on the bench. I'd be surprised if next season he was still a Liverpool player."

Sturridge was replaced by Adam Lallana after 60 minutes of the game at Anfield and Murphy thinks the substitution prompted a discernible improvement in Liverpool's performance. "The obvious reason for that is the way that [Klopp] wants them to play without the ball," said Murphy, who played for Liverpool from 1997 until 2004.

"Daniel is obviously a superb player when they've got good possessions and lots of the ball. He's not as tenacious with his closing down and his pressing as [Roberto] Firmino and the other boys."

After the match against United, Klopp said he sympathised with Sturridge, because United's safety-first approach to the match meant the striker had negligible room in which to operate. "It was a really difficult game for a striker, the way we played it wasn't easy to enjoy for a striker," the Liverpool manager said, as quoted by The Mirror.