Liverpool fans have been here before.
Yet again, Daniel Sturridge’s body isn’t quite ready to play football.
The England international, who has missed roughly 97% of games in his professional career to date, has been ruled out of Liverpool’s penultimate preseason match with Barcelona at Wembley with a hip injury.
We should stress that the injury is said to be a minor one – but is also expected to keep him out of their final preseason game against Jurgen Klopp’s old side Mainz 05 and possibly the opening league match away at Arsenal.
Even though the latest injury is not thought to be too serious, the news prompted an all-too-familiar response from Liverpool supporters.
Sadly every injury Sturridge has picked up was considered 'Slight' or 'Minor.' Luckily we've got a class backup in Origi.
— Harry (@HarryIles_) August 6, 2016
Minor injury & Sturridge 💏#LFCvBarca
— RoadTripMoments® (@RoadTripMoments) August 6, 2016
So we're gonna start another season counting on Sturridge ( injured again). God save us #LFC
— Pedro J. Salazar C. (@ppedrossalazar) August 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/DrGonzooooo/status/761952614498066432
At least this guy could see a positive…
https://twitter.com/WhereIsTheMane/status/761952011931844608
Sturridge missed the start of last season with a hip injury, and spent his last preseason recovering from surgery in the US.
Liverpool face an already potentially tricky start to their Premier League season. With construction work still under way at Anfield, their first home game is against champions Leicester in mid September. Before then, they face three consecutive away trips to Arsenal, Burnley and Tottenham.
Hopefully Klopp will have a fully-fit Sturridge at his disposal as soon as he possibly can.