Philippe Coutinho, Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge should all make their returns from injury for Liverpool's trip to West Ham United on Tuesday night, although a plan will have to be configured to regulate the amount of minutes they individually play, says Jürgen Klopp.

The Reds travel to the Boleyn Ground for the final time as they face the Hammers in an FA Cup fourth-round replay and the attacking trio are all set to feature, having returned to training in the last week.

Sturridge was on the substitutes' bench for their Barclays Premier League draw at home to Sunderland on Saturday and was originally scheduled to make an appearance, before first-half injuries meant Liverpool had to abandon their plans.

But he's set to finally make his long-awaited return, alongside Coutinho and Origi, when they travel to the capital - with the Reds boss explaining at his pre-match press conference that they must decide which, if any, start from the off.

Klopp says Reds' three forwards are all set to feature

"We haven't decided about the starting line-up," declared Klopp, who said that they had a "very important session" ahead of them on Friday to determine the team.

The German added that Sturridge was "fit enough to be on the bench" at the weekend and explained that the striker was "impressive" in training on Friday and said they thought: "'come on, if there's a chance for 10 or 15 minutes, we should try it'." 

He added that they spoke to the England international, who insisted he'd like to play, but said that "the game had a different story" and there was "no possibility [for Sturridge to play] with the two early changes."

Sturridge, Benteke and Origi in training at Melwood on Monday evening. (Picture: Getty Images)
Sturridge, Benteke and Origi in training at Melwood on Monday evening. (Picture: Getty Images)

Klopp also said that Origi and Coutinho would be in training on the Monday evening before their journey to London and insisted they too "are in the squad, hopefully" against West Ham.

But he said that the situation is "a little bit complicated" because the game can go to extra-time, and possibly even penalties, and said he and his backroom staff "have to look at who will start" because "they can't all start together" because they would "have to change three times because the whole game would be too much in this moment [of their recovery]."

He declared that they "have to figure out" how they "do it best" but vowed that they "will find a solution, for sure" to determine who starts, and how all three feature.

Reds will field a team based on who is available

The two teams met less than two weeks ago in an initial fixture on Merseyside, but a youthful Liverpool side couldn't push past their top-flight opponents despite their performance meriting more than a goalless stalemate.

Klopp revealed that the team he fields against Slaven Bilic's men will be pretty similar to the inexperienced eleven that faced them the first time around, although he said there are more options available to him.

He said that it is "always about who is available" and said they would have "20 players in training" on the Monday night, but boast around "38 players" in the squad "in this moment" with "all the young lads involved."

Coutinho is set to play for the first time since early January. (Picture: Getty Images)
Coutinho is set to play for the first time since early January. (Picture: Getty Images)

"We always train with them and the rest can rest," added Klopp, who said that "a few players are off" recovering currently but they will come into the reckoning when they "make a squad for the game."

The manager also said that the team won't be like the one that played against Exeter City in the previous round, explaining that it will be "a different line-up" because "a lot of players are now available" and it's "good for them [the young kids] to play." 

Ill Brannagan won't be involved, explains Klopp

But Klopp also explained that a few of the young players are "not available" and said that he sympathises for Cameron Brannagan, who will miss out because "he is ill" which he says is a "shame" because "he played really well" as well as the other players doing "a really good job" in the first game.

"The full-backs will be similar, one the other midfield positions will be similar," said Klopp, who also insisted that they "can fill up with players who you usually would expect in the FA Cup" whilst they "try to find the best solution" for their situation."

He said that they "don't think too much about the competitions" and said it "doesn't make a difference" to the coaching staff, because they treat them all with equal importance.

"We can't say 'this game is not too important' - each game is very important for us," added the manager, who said they will "try to find a line-up to beat West Ham" away which he said is a "not too easy" task.

The Reds are yet to put a goal past the Londoners this season, despite having 270 minutes' worth of football to do so, having lost twice and drawn once against them.

But Klopp is taking positives from "the last game" as he said that it was "a good game" for Liverpool because they saw "what we are able to do" and he said if they can "do it again or better" then they "have a chance" to progress to the next round.

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About the author
Charlie Malam
Digital Sports Writer at the Daily Express. First-class Staffordshire University Sports Journalism graduate. Formerly VAVEL UK's Liverpool FC editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. Contributor since June 2014.