Sturridge can elevate LFC to another level once he hits full-fitness
When Daniel Sturridge first signed for Liverpool, there were few who believed he could take the team to the next level. He’d enjoyed a good loan spell with Bolton previously, having made a controversial move to Chelsea from rivals Manchester City but had struggled to really break the first team.
But after his move to Anfield in January 2013, the striker dovetailed superbly with fellow signing Philippe Coutinho and many at Liverpool barely noticed the absence of Luis Suarez from April through to the following season after Suarez’s suspension took effect.
The rest is history, as they say, and Sturridge now stands as one of the most prolific strikers in Liverpool history (although, it is early days still) with 38 goals in his first 57 games. It is exactly that sort of record that had Liverpool fans salivating at the thought of introducing on of the best attackers back into a team that had really started to hit form again. His goals since returning have proved them right.
His goal against Palace in the FA Cup on Saturday was his third of the season – not a bad return for a player that has played barely a handful more games, and his celebration with Alberto Moreno proved a further boost to an already confident team.
Speaking to LiverpoolFC.com, Moreno said: “After being injured for so long, he scored a goal with his second touch. You can see the type of footballer he is from that.
“Sturridge is a top player and everyone on the team was wishing he returned as soon as possible – and he’s done brilliantly. He’s a very important player for the team.”
Sturridge’s goal against Alan Pardew’s team on Saturday may have looked easy but that was mainly down to the clinical nature of the striker and his goal-scoring abilities – something Brendan Rodgers’ side have so sorely missed for the past 4-5 months of the season.
With Daniel’s return, he can hopefully help to bring the best out of many of Liverpool’s young players and aid the team in kicking on over the next few months.
