Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes that Daniel Sturridge should take a leaf out of Roberto Firmino’s book if he wants to start playing on a regular basis again.
The 27 year old has only started three league matches so far this campaign against Burnley, Leicester City and Chelsea and has yet to score so far in the Premier League. Carragher told the Liverpool Echo that Sturridge should look at Firmino to understand why Jurgen Klopp is picking the Brazilian ahead of him:
“He is only playing one striker at the moment, which is a problem for Daniel. Last season he was playing with two, so that’s something he has to think about. How can he improve? What is Firmino doing that he is not doing? Daniel Sturridge’s strike rate for Liverpool (55 goals in 99 games) is outstanding. Up there with the greatest strikers Liverpool have had.”
“We know he can do that, but perhaps Jurgen Klopp wants different things from him that Firmino can add. So maybe Daniel has to look at that and think where he can improve to get back into the team.”
Klopp substituted Sturridge in his last Premier League start against Chelsea saying that he had stopped sprinting. It later transpired that Sturridge was suffering with a niggling injury but it does demonstrate what the Reds boss requires. A player full of running and willing to close down players for 90 minutes. If form or fitness doesn’t allow Sturridge to do this then Firmino will continue to be picked ahead of him as Carra says.
