Daniel Sturridge at Pivotal Juncture for Liverpool as Injury Strikes in December

After Divock Origi came off the substitutes’ bench to net the opening goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory at home to Sunderland at the end of November, Jurgen Klopp extolled the virtues of timing, with the Belgian finding himself in the right place at the right time.

“Timing is very important and now he’s ready again,” he told reporters at Anfield, with Origi replacing the injured Philippe Coutinho and making the defining contribution against a robust Black Cats defence.

Origi subsequently starred in the Reds’ 2-0 win over Leeds United in the EFL Cup quarter-finals, touching home an excellent cross from 18-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold to break the deadlock.

It was Origi’s third goal in four starts for Liverpool in the EFL Cup so far this season, with the 21-year-old grasping his opportunities whenever handed to him, and he looks set to make his first starting appearance in the Premier League away to Bournemouth on December 4.

Previewing the Reds’ trip to Dean Court, Klopp once again stressed that “timing is really important,” saying “Div is back in shape, so that was lucky, I would say. He was ready for this specific moment.”

Shortly before this assessment of Origi’s impact, however, Klopp addressed the ongoing fitness issues of Daniel Sturridge, with the 27-year-old ruled out against the Cherries with a calf problem.

Sunday’s clash with Bournemouth comes at the beginning of a crucial festive period for Klopp’s Liverpool, who will also take on West Ham United, Middlesbrough, Everton, Stoke City and Manchester City before the end of 2016, and it presents a major opportunity for Klopp’s squad players.

According to Danny Gallagher of the MailOnline, Coutinho will miss up to six weeks of action with an ankle injury, with the Times’ Paul Joyce reporting that the Brazilian was hoping to return against City on New Year’s Eve:

Coutinho hoping to be back inside six weeks if all goes well. Makes Man City on Dec 31 a target for comeback

— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) November 28, 2016

In the absence of Coutinho, Klopp will require his peripheral figures, like Origi, to take responsibility in attack, but that the playmaker’s injury coincides with another setback for Sturridge is a disappointing blow for the England international.

Sturridge cannot afford to fall foul of bad timing at this stage, and he must look to make an immediate impact when he returns to fitness in December.

Losing a player of Coutinho’s quality would hamper any top-level side, with the 24-year-old scoring six goals and laying on six assists in 14 appearances for the Reds in all competitions prior to Didier Ndong’s strong challenge at Anfield on November 26.

Following Klopp’s appointment as Liverpool manager in October of last year, Coutinho’s influence has grown considerably, both in terms of creativity and his contributions to the Reds’ pressing game.

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