Boss: Hard-working Ings to be involved against Tottenham

After spending almost all of last season out of action due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, the striker has been featuring - and impressing - for the Reds’ U23 side this term, scoring seven goals so far.

Ings will return to the first-team squad against Spurs - and Klopp used his pre-match press conference to highlight his delight at the 24-year-old’s application and work ethic.

He said: “It is really good. If I could be a little bit less sensitive I could say that’s his job to do, but I am sensitive and so I know it is not easy but he takes the situation in a perfect way – but that is all for him.

“He had a long-term injury, he is not injured anymore and he is fit, everything is good, he plays in the U23s – that’s all for his career and everything is good. How he is doing with this attitude, everything will be good at the end.

“In this moment, the situation is not too easy; we have Roberto, Daniel and Divock, so there is not a lot of space for the few minutes you could give. You have to build a squad for different things to do and not a third a fourth striker on the bench. That makes not too much sense, but he uses the game time.

“What I can say is he will be involved in the squad for tomorrow 100 per cent and all the rest, we have to see.”

Ings only senior involvement so far in 2016-17 has come in the EFL Cup, as a substitute at Burton Albion before a second-half cameo against Derby County – and Klopp feels that serves as an indication of the strength of the squad he has at his disposal.

He added: “I think we are completely clear about the way and about the things he has to do. He is a nice guy, a wonderful player, that’s all good but that’s a sign of the strength of the squad.

“You can be a really, really good player and be not even in the squad. That’s possible and it’s a sign of the strength of LFC.”