Daniel Sturridge has to be at Euro 2016, says Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp

'There are a lot of good strikers in England'

Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool shakes hands with Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool as he is substituted (Getty Images)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hopes striker Daniel Sturridge gives England boss Roy Hodgson a Euro 2016 selection problem.

The 26-year-old played an hour against Holland on Tuesday and is vying for a starting place against the likes of Tottenham's Harry Kane - who he goes head to head with at Anfield this evening - and Leicester's Jamie Vardy.

Sturridge has had his injury problems but Klopp would not deny the striker his chance at a major tournament in exchange for a summer off to recuperate.

"There are a lot of good strikers in England so congratulations for that," the German said.

"If I say I wish Daniel could have a real holiday and doesn't have to go to the European Championships, what kind of manager would I be?

"It is the European Championships and playing for your country is the best thing a player can do, and I really wish for him to be part of it.

"The situation here is the best situation since I have been here; he trained all sessions with the national team, he had 65 minutes against Netherlands and was absolutely okay.

"He is very important for us and hopefully he is fit until the end of the season and then I cannot make decisions for Roy Hodgson - that is his problem.

"But the better we play, together with him, the better the chances for our players to be part of a big tournament."

Klopp has raised the pressure on Tottenham by insisting they have to win at Anfield, where they have been victorious only four times in the last 69 league visits, to keep their Barclays Premier League title hopes alive.

They trail leaders Leicester, who play on Sunday at home Southampton, by five points and Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino admits the Foxes deserve to be where they are.

"We need to give the credit to Leicester," the Argentinian said.

"From the beginning of the season they were fantastic. We cannot take the credit from them.

"We are in a very good position but we cannot compare with another team. We need to fight.

"We have seven games and it's important to fight until the end of the season with the possibility to achieve good things.

"One is the possibility to win the title and the other is to finish in the top four, which is important for us."

PA