BT Sport pundit Chris Sutton believes that Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is worth a stunning £50-£60 million after his recent run of form.
Sturridge netted in both clashes with Chelsea last week, the latter a stoppage time equaliser to ensure a point for the Reds on Saturday – and Sutton reckons that not even boss Jurgen Klopp would have tipped the ace, who is still firmly on the fringes of the starting XI, to return to form in the way that he has.
Sutton adds that he thinks the Reds will win by a close margin in Wednesday’s Champions League encounter against Napoli, which he puts down to Liverpool’s “sensational” attack.
“Daniel Sturridge, he’s coming back to form – he’s a £50-60million striker now in the ranks. Strength in depth, they’re going to go close aren’t they? I think Klopp, the more he plays him, is having more faith in Sturridge but the front line picks itself,” he said on BT Sport’s Champions League Highlights Show on Tuesday night [as transcribed by the Express].
“The truth is, I don’t think Klopp would’ve expected him to come back to the form he’s in now. I don’t think he’s a player Klopp could have trusted but it’s brilliant for Liverpool – their team, their squad and the fans. Their strength in depth now is up there with [Manchester] City’s.
“I think Liverpool will nick it, their attack is sensational. They’ll have to be switched on but they’ve got the best defender in the world.”
OPINION
This big-money claim made by Sutton represents a very high figure, but given that Sturridge has suddenly found his scoring boots, he definitely has a point. Klopp may not have had faith in Sturridge last season, but now that he has put his trust in him this time around, he is really reaping the benefits of fantastic form. Sturridge salvaged a point for the Reds on Saturday, and he has really proved that he is capable of some exceptional quality as well, which he demonstrated against the Blues. Nevertheless, as Sutton points out, the more Klopp plays Sturridge the better he is going to get. This philosophy is true with any player – and at the moment, he is not showing any signs of slowing down. His form goes to show the depth that Liverpool have in their attack – any team would be envious of Klopp’s crop of players at the moment.
