Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Daniel Sturridge will again be absent for their Capital One Cup semi-final first leg against Stoke.

Sturridge, who has not played since the 2-0 defeat at Newcastle United on December 6, has recovered from a hamstring injury but Klopp will not rush him back until he can train regularly.

"Maybe you have the feeling Daniel has been training with us for the last three weeks," he told his pre-match news conference. "And every day he's fitter and fitter and fitter but I say 'No - I wait'. It's not like this.

"Daniel has had some problems in these weeks - not serious but then he couldn't train or make the next session. When he's had a row of (training) sessions, I will pick him.

"I'll be the first one to pick him when he's ready. I won't hold him back. It would be easy for me to say, come on, let's try, we don't score enough goals, but we have to be patient.

"Daniel had last a complete pre-season in 2011. During that period we load bodies with strength. What we're doing now is trying to fill his body with energy."