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The consistent inconsistencies with Sturridge’s ‘team’ play

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DanielSturridgeI fully appreciate the great form of Liverpool FC’s two main strikers.

Their link up play is arguably the best in the Premiership, yet in my opinion, Daniel Sturridge has been guilty of hogging the ball in the final third to the detriment of the team.

Towards the end of last season I felt Suarez was also lacking basic generosity in the final third. Strikers need to be brave enough to shoot and take opportunities but has Sturridge been guilty of shooting or trying to shoot too often when it would be in the team’s best interest for him to pass?

I get the impression, may be unfairly, that Mr Sturridge is keen to have his name in lights for club, country and sponsors rather then do what’s in the best interests for the team. Am I overly critical? His goal celebration cries out ‘me, me, me’ as he dances, then finally acknowledges his colleagues, am I being harsh?

In all competitions for Liverpool FC, this season Daniel Sturridge he has scored 12 and played in 11. That’s brilliant but would the team have scored more if Sturridge was more inclined to pass in the final third. His 12 goals and 3 assists this season have come with 57 shots on goal. 12 goals from 57 shots works out as 21% of his shots result in goals – that’s approximately one in five shots result in Sturridge scoring. 22 out of the 57 shots where on target, that’s 38.6%. How does that compare to Suarez, Rooney and Sergio Aguero?

Wayne Rooney

4 goals in 9 comparable matches and 30 shots, (including Carling Cup and Premiership but not Champions League), that’s 13.3% of shots leading to a goal, nearly 8% less! Yet 15 of the 30 shots Rooney has had have been on target, 50% of shots are on goal which is almost 12% more then Sturridge. The low shots on target percentage suggests that my observation of Sturidge shooting when he may be better placed to pass, may have some weight.

Luis Suarez

How about Suarez? His 6 goals have come in 5 comparable matches, that’s amazing. He has had 31 shots of which 13 have been on goal, which gives us 41.9% accuracy. And 19.4% of his shots result in a goal. Again Suarez has a better shot accuracy than Sturridge with shots on goal but only by about 4%. Suarez’s shots to goal return is much closer to Sturridge’s as both have around 20%.

Sergio Aguero

Sandwiched between Sturridge and Suarez in second place on the Premier League top scorers table we have Sergio Agüero, aka Kun. Kun has impressively scored 6 goals in 7 games. He has had 18 shots which gives him a 33.3% success rate, noticeable better then Rooney, Suarez and Sturridge. 12 of his 18 shots have been on target – 66.7%! The stats suggest Kun only shoots when he has an excellent chance of being on target and a very good one of scoring.

In my opinion Sturridge, and to some extent Suarez, shoot when they should pass when in the final third which is detrimental to the type of football Liverpool FC want to play. What do you think?

Of the strikers I’ve considered, Sturridge shoots more often and with less accuracy in terms of shots on goal. More than that it’s difficult to say. In the end we can all cry ‘lies, dam lies and statistics!’.

You can follow me on twitter @LFCVee 

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An armchair fan who loves the stadium experience but likes the bread and butter of replays, moronic pundits, a drink in a pub atmosphere. LFC is my religion.

Common sense is missing from football but the situation is always complicated so I endeavour to give opinion and encourage discussion and thought about LFC.

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