Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted that Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge are capable of playing together.
Origi was chosen ahead of Sturridge in the first leg of Liverpool's Europa League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund on Thursday, and repaid Klopp's faith in him by scoring a crucial away goal at the Westfalenstadion.
The decision raised questions as to who Klopp regards as his number one striker, but the German insists that he picks his side on a game-by-game basis and even hinted that the pair could play alongside each other, as they did in a 6-1 League Cup victory over Southampton earlier this season.
"I am not interested in the things [the media] think. I make decisions that are not made on who, was, when. How could I? I have no doubt as to the quality of Daniel Sturridge. Daniel is doing really well and had no problem when he saw he would not start [against Dortmund]. He came in and did his job. We have to leave him to work, and when is on the pitch, give all he has," he told reporters.
"This is nothing about what somebody thought when [Luis] Suarez left the club, it's a long time since then. We have a lot of strikers at the club, they all need confidence and faith. I don't think there is a challenge between them, they have to be in the best shape and it's very likely they can play together. Divock and Dan played together at Southampton, it was not bad.
"You need more than one striker and, if all are fit, which is not the case most of the time, you have to make decisions. We have to think what's best for the team and the more players we have available, the better it is."
Liverpool host Stoke City on Sunday before welcoming Dortmund back to Anfield for the second leg of their quarter-final on Thursday.
Barney Corkhill
