Sturridge is crucial to Liverpool’s success and it will be interesting to see how he fits into this new-look side
We all remember SAS. Sturridge and Suarez terrorized the league together. They were an incredible partnership. Brilliant and ruthless. The pair together were arguably the best strike partnership in the world at the time, certainly overshadowed by Suarez’s current partnership though.
Unfortunately this dream was not to last forever and Suarez left to win the Champions League, with the best strike force in history, as Sturridge spent most of last season injured. When he did play however, the striker was dangerous and powerful as ever, scoring a few goals in a few appearances.
Perhaps the only game I remember fondly from last season, the early win against Tottenham, Sturridge was able to make even Balotelli look good. He is a wonderful player and a phenomenal goal scorer. It is only a short time before he is back in the side.
What does that mean for Liverpool? For our current lineup? Will Daniel come straight back into the team? How will he and Benteke fit together?
Allow me to very optimistically discuss his return to action. Liverpool have done the right thing in not rushing him back into action. This time for the healing process to take place will enable Sturridge to play the season relatively injury free. If he is able to do so Sturridge scores goals. That is a fact of his play. He will score if he is on the field. He has proven that since his arrival and 35 goals in 50 appearances is a very impressive record. I expect him to reach 50 goals this season.
What will his return do to the side however, and how will he fit in? These are great questions to have to ask and obviously the form of Lallana, Firmino, Benteke, and others, in the meantime, will decide how Danny fits in. Based on current performance I believe Lallana will fall out for Firmino, though I could see Firmino taking Ibe’s place.
Ibe is still young and featuring less regularly is not likely to hurt his development at this stage. Also Rodgers seems to be placing some faith and trust in Lallana (a move I agree with), despite two quiet performances to start. There is a wealth of talent in attack at the moment but it is still early to recognize who will stay in the side.
Based on current form Coutinho, will not fall out (in fact he will only get better), and I am certain that Benteke will continue to succeed. Those two will be in the side on Sturridges return. I believe that Sturridge will join a two striker system with Benteke. They will be fed by Coutinho and Firmino or Lallana. Now Rodgers does not seem likely to play with two out and out strikers and Benteke is likely to keep his spot in the middle.
But imagine his excellent hold up play feeding Sturridge. Benteke has played a number of wonderful flicks and one-two’s since his arrival, but often times he doesn’t have the right runs to recognize his efforts. Sturridge is likely to make these runs. If the two can play with each other I am hopeful we will soon witness the birth of another great Liverpool strike partnership.
Sturridge is a versatile striker and played on the left with Suarez. We have also seen that a fluid top three has always been key to Rodgers. Sturridge is likely to find a lot of freedom to move around Benteke. Both strikers make the right runs and get into the right spaces, this will take coordination at first, perhaps a danger of playing both together. We may see Sturridge and Benteke used as subs for each other. Honestly with Sturridge injury record it may be safer to bring him off the bench. Sturridge’s return is a delightful prospect and I am excited to see him in the side. Though it may not allow a lot of room for Danny Ings.
We have a lot to think about for Daniel’s return and Brendan does as well. In the meantime we have tough tests ahead. Three tough fixtures in Arsenal, West Ham, and Man Utd are on the horizon. We are likely to have Sturridge for the last at most. The side has some tough questions to answer against Arsenal. But if we can pull off a result this winning start will taste a whole lot sweeter.
I am anxious for Danny’s return. But in the meantime I place my entire trust in the current side to pull off a result against the Gooners.
Benteke is succeeding? He has one goal (which shouldn’t have counted), and one other real chance of scoring (he didn’t), despite starting both matches. He is light years ahead of Lambert or an Andy Carroll, but come on, succeeding? He is low like Mario, not where he needs to be for most crosses, and poorly times his runs. He’s been rather lucky so far. It’s early, but I’m far from impressed. I strongly doubt Benteke will reach 15 goals this season. We are playing him because literally, he is our only “good” option up top.
When Sturridge comes back, he won’t be starting every match. They will be bringing him back slowly, mostly off the bench. But the few glimpses of him you’ve seen lately, he looks like he has more hunger to score than perhaps any LFC player than Coutinho. You can see that he feels left out, and forgotten. He is going to play at a top level when comes back, because he wants it the most. If we secure a top 4 spot, it will only be because Sturridge got us there, not Benteke. DS is as close as we truly have to a world class scoring threat up top, and the rest of the big clubs have gone out and re-armed. You simply can’t mention Benteke in the same thought as Costa, and Benzema (one time LFC target), even Sanchez (another one time LFC target). Sturridge you can.
Liverpool will outshine Arsenal in tomorrow game if the officiating is OK
Well BR better use a better offensive diamond formation against Arsenal’s massive attacking advantage or else this will prove his stubbornness with the terrible current form of LFC as ignorance and set him straight in line for a woeful performance in the subsequent fixtures and land him a proper exit from Anfield