Sturridge is one of the best strikers in Europe, if he can stay fit
Despite Jurgen Klopp’s encouraging start, especially with the 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, it doesn’t speak well for Liverpool Football Club that they are hugely reliant on the fitness of one man.
Given the money spent and the squad assembled, Brendan Rodgers’ departure from Anfield should not have been down to losing Daniel Sturridge to injury for most of the last year, but such is the England international’s importance to the club since Luis Suarez departed for Barcelona.
Liverpool’s transfer record in recent years has been well-documented for its appalling and expensive strike-rate, but the January 2013 window was a rare positive occasion. The arrivals of Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho for only around £20m have easily been Liverpool’s best signings since Suarez in 2011, and that’s before even considering the value for money both have represented for Liverpool.
Sadly, both Coutinho and Sturridge are struggling at the moment (even with Coutinho’s fantastic goals against Chelsea the Brazilian needs to be more consistent), but whilst Coutinho’s issues are on the pitch, Sturridge can barely survive on the training field, let alone make the matchday squad.
Moreover, Coutinho will come through his bad patch of form, whereas the questions are beginning to mount up for Sturridge as to whether he will ever be able to play long enough again to sustain a good run of form.
There is certainly no doubt over his quality. Sturridge’s strike rate in the league is exceptional – better than Suarez, Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, Fernando Torres and any other forward in the club’s history since the formation of the Premier League.
Sturridge was on fire for Liverpool in his first 18 months but has struggled with injury
However, there is no point having an incredible strike rate if you’re no longer on the pitch. Liverpool need someone who is a reliable upfront, not just in front of goal but in amount of games played.
Christian Benteke has also struggled with injury problems (although his do not seem as damaging as Sturridge’s) but has been playing well when available under Klopp, scoring against Bournemouth and Chelsea. Meanwhile Danny Ings will not return for several months and the club cannot rely on Divock Origi as he is still finding his way in the Premier League.
It may mean that Klopp will have to change his plans for January, and instead of concentrating on the reported defence and midfield targets, he may need to find another world-class forward that, crucially, is not injury-prone.
Arguably Sturridge is Liverpool’s only world-class player in their squad, but there is no point paying his very considerable wages for him to sit permanently on the sidelines. Therefore, if Sturridge cannot return to action soon, and prove that he can sustain a run of games at least, then Fenway Sports Group may decide to cut their losses on the 26 year old.
Regardless, it seems that Sturridge will never become durable, and Rodgers was probably aware of that, hence wanting to bring in Benteke, but the Belgian is hardly someone you can rely upon fitness-wise either (groin, knee and Achilles tendon problems at Aston Villa).
Having two top class strikers competing for one spot may seem unhealthy, but it can work as Arsene Wenger is currently showing at Arsenal with Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud. Nonetheless, for Liverpool there hasn’t been any competition thus far as one or both of them have been injured throughout the season.
If he can keep him fit, Klopp could build his team around Sturridge but it could easily go the other way
However, Benteke only arrived this summer, and for a hefty £32m fee, so his future at Liverpool seems secure for now. Plus, if Klopp decided to sign another top striker, it may be easier to provide competition in the shape of Benteke rather than Sturridge (who would want to be the main man), therefore the latter could lose out if Klopp feels he needs more firepower in an attempt to propel Liverpool into the top four this season.
Daniel Sturridge is a wonderful striker, and has come on leaps and bounds since joining Liverpool from Chelsea, showing all of the potential he carried at Manchester City and then in London.
At Anfield, he has been a measure of consistency on the pitch in scoring goals, but completely inconsistent in being available to play on the pitch.
Fowler, Owen and Torres all suffered from injuries, making it easier for Liverpool fans to be patient with Sturridge but Liverpool need their main man back, otherwise a new one might be needed.
Sturridge is a luxury we cannot afford with the wages he is on and never being fit enough to play.Maybe its psychological too.
Its so frustrating for the fans but more so for sturridge, such a great player who lights up the team ‘when’ he plays, I certainly don’t want him to leave but something needs to be sorted, probably an appearance kind of contract, i feel sorry for him
steven gerrard reckoned a lot of it was fear of reinjuring himself compared with suarez who would fly back from south america and demand to play, either way he is early into a big contract, 140k a week i believe, he has to stay fit because on those wages he is a luxury liverpool cannot afford.
Yes, I fully support your claim. Imagined that Suarez is still with Liverpool, he will not be injury prone. Looking of he is currently playing a lot of matches for Barcelona. This is an effective player and worth every single penny.
I am wondering whether he is really injuried. Sometimes, after the club sell him, he becomes very active in another club. Despite predicting the future, no matter how good Sturridge is, Liverpool needs to sell him in January and cash in for other superb forwarder.
It’s a waste of time and money for this player. In fact, Liverpool just need to improve Benteke, Fermino and Ings. I even don’t have any fate with Origi to perform. A good striker will show sign of scoring in a new club and new league. But, I didn’t see this urge and aggression in player like Origi. I may think that he is a flop to the club too.
In January, Sturridge and Origi and hold each other hand and waive goodbye to Liverpool. No matter how they perform in another club. Liverpool will get a even beer forwarder with the sale of these 2 players.
I think we need to be careful how we express our opinion here. No creative football will feign injuries and I dont you would yourself. Daniel is not the only unfortunate player to suffer long injury. We have many players such ad Arselen Diaby, Walcott, Jack Wilshere, who have suffered injuries and have been on the sideline for a long. We need to sympathise with Daniel and pray for quick recovery and sustainable one.
Daniel sturridge is a good player but I don’t think he’s very capable of striking for Liverpool, because I found him has a plastic player.
Please Liverpool should sold him and buy a player that is 100% fit, good finisher, strong player, in January because I found sturridge as a waste of money in Liverpool, take a look at the amount lfc waste on him in America when he was still injury last season. I wish too see a good player in front of p. Coutinho, because I can see the changes in Liverpool squad, the good change by manager J. Kloop, you’ll never walk alone.
dsturridge is absolutely world class,we should give am sometime, teams don’t sell their top players coz they are injury prone,,robben,ribery,barely played last season, but are still with Bayern,have aguero,played a full season for city?have city thought of selling him? no! and u suggest we should sell sturridge.
I have read through this comment and it hurt to see people say stud should be sold,the reason behind daniel stud injury is either hereditary or he is truly injury prone or he need to change his diet,stud is one of our best player and he should be given some time,
give the lad some time and you all will be singing his name again ! he is a great strike,way ahead of benteke and ings/origi. show faith in him and he wil repay his every single penny spent on him.