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Jurgen Klopp holds Liverpool media conference ahead of West Ham clash

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he'll return to the dugout for their FA Cup replay with West Ham

Jurgen Klopp says he is "back in the race" after returning to work less than 48 hours after undergoing surgery to remove his appendix.

Klopp missed Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Sunderland on Saturday after falling ill prior to the match and then underwent a successful operation to remove his appendix.

The Liverpool manager returned to work on Monday and is expected to be in the dugout at the Boleyn Ground for Tuesday night's FA Cup fourth-round replay against West Ham

"I feel good and I am back in the race," Klopp said. "I figured if I feel bad I should stay at home, but I feel good.

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"If I am not fit, then I cannot help here and I would be at home. Everything is OK and we don't have to talk about this any more.

"I am very thankful for our doc (club medic Andy Massey) because he said we should go to hospital - I was not too sure - and the surgeon was great, a season ticket-holder who told me we both didn't want to see the game, I had the best nurses and everything was okay."

Managerial responsibilities against Sunderland fell to the German's coaching staff including Zeljko Buvac, Peter Krawietz, Pepijn Lijnders and John Achterberg but Klopp does not think his absence affected the result.

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"It was not necessary to give the points away but that is not something we can change," he said.

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Liverpool first-team development coach Pepijn Lijnders was extremely disappointed with the 2-2 draw against Sunderland on Saturday

"It makes no difference if you are in a deep sleep or on the bench - you can't change it any more.

"There were a lot of positive things and if you pick out the last 10 minutes it was a really good game; how you should play and we should have scored a few more goals.

A significant number of Liverpool supporters - some estimations suggesting as many as 10,000 - staged a 77th-minute walk out during the clash with the Black Cats in protest at next season's ticket prices. 

Sky sources understand Fenway Sports Group and Liverpool's senior management team have since held talks over whether to review the new ticket price structure

Liverpool fans
Image: Liverpool fans staged a 77th-minute walk out during the 2-2 draw with Sunderland

The fan groups Spion Kop 1906 and Spirit of Shankly, who organised the protest, have threatened further action and Klopp is hopeful a solution can be found.

"It's not too easy for me to say much because I wasn't there," he said. 

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Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool have to find a solution to their ticket price problems. Some fans left their last match early in protest of rising prices.

"I know it is my problem too, but everything I could say would make it more complicated. I have to collect more information because the club is speaking to find a solution.

"It is not what we want for fans to leave the stadium before the match is finished."

Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi are all in contention to feature for Liverpool against West Ham as they attempt to set up a fifth-round tie with Blackburn Rovers. 

Jurgen Klopp, Daniel Sturridge, Southampton v Liverpool, Capital One Cup
Image: Daniel Sturridge could make his return from injury against West Ham

"Daniel was fit enough to be on the bench on Saturday and was impressive on Friday in training," Klopp said. 

"I hope to have Divock and Philippe Coutinho in the squad tomorrow.

"It is complicated because extra-time is possible. They can't all start together because then we have to make three changes."

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