FOUR months into his career at Anfield and Daniel Sturridge has all but endeared himself to the Liverpool faithful with his direct style of play, touch of nonchalance and eye for the spectacular.
Notching up 10 goals in his 10 appearances for the Reds in the process, making him the fastest ever player in the illustrious history of Liverpool Football Club to hit the 10 goal mark – the 23 year-old has made a bright start to his tenure at Anfield to say the least.
10 goals and 3 assists in 13 Premier League appearances – on average scoring or assisting a goal in every single game he’s played. An impressive record by every account. But as so often, the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
The England international announced himself to Liverpool fans in remarkable fashion, scoring 7 minutes into his debut away to Mansfield Town in the 3rd round of the FA Cup before going on a 5 game scoring run, which saw him pick up 4 goals, including goals against fierce rivals Manchester United and Manchester City respectively.
Sturridge’s form would soon sustain a significant dip, seeing him go on a 4 game goal draught which would end in the scintillating, controversial 2-2 draw at home to ex-employers Chelsea, which would turn out to be strike partner Luis Suarez’s final game of the 2012/13 campaign.
So, why the significance? Why the need to point out and place emphasis on the absence of Luis Suarez? Simply put, to point out just how big an impact Luis Suarez’s presence and absence up front has on “Studge”.
Let’s break down the numbers – in the 10 games Daniel Sturridge has played alongside Luis Suarez, he has scored a modest 5 goals. On the other hand, with Suarez absent from the team, Sturridge has scored the exact same amount, but in a mere 3 games. This raises the question; Does Daniel Sturridge play better without Luis Suarez? The stats certainly say so.
When Suarez plays, it is almost inevitable that he’ll be made the focal point of every offensive exploit Liverpool conjure up, with balls constantly played out from the back straight into him, where he’s tasked with taking the ball in his stride and making something happen, be it with a fancy flick, a neat one-two or a sublime defence-splitting pass.
With Suarez effectively playing in what is commonly referred to as the ‘Number 10 role’, he has to constantly drop deep to make up the gap between the midfield and the final-third, this makes it necessary for Sturridge to remain up front and keep himself available for crosses, drilled long balls etc. played into him for him to lay-off for teammates or pull the trigger when an opportunity presents itself.
What this does is restrict his potential impact on a game – effectively limiting the use of his two deadliest traits, namely, his raw pace and exceptional dribbling ability.
With Suarez missing, the difference in Sturridge’s approach immediately became evident. He was hugging the touchline, collecting balls inside the Liverpool half, running at defenders with blistering pace and linking up well with the likes of Downing and in particular Coutinho. It was clear just how much more a threat Sturridge was when he was given time and space on the ball.
With the freedom that came with his significantly more liberal role, his awareness off the ball was also made visible, making some very intelligent runs, in turn latching on to through balls with his almost monstrous pace, reaching the ball ahead of the opposition with ease. Only one thing was clear for all to see – Daniel Sturridge was simply put, a better player.
Am I suggesting that Sturridge should not be played alongside Suarez? No, I most certainly am not. Perhaps a tactical change that would allow both players to maximize both players’ strengths is required? Because one thing’s for sure, both players are very much needed at the club for seasons to come.
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reina tello
skrtel 15
enrique 8
henderson 15
allen 8
borini 8
downing 10
carroll 16
assaidi 4
spearing 4
shelvey 6
in
vorn 7
digne 8
ilori 6
zouma 8
eriksen 18
strootman 17
salvio 12
—————-vorn——————-
jonson—-ilori——-agger—-digne
————–strootman————–
—-gerrard—————eriksen—-
suarez——-sturridge——coutinho
Continue playing your football manager
Sum very disillusional people on dis,I’d say u done well on football manager dis season did ya
I think aa stands for alcoholics anonymous.
this isnt fifa.
Out of interest, how do you know about all those players you want to sign?
Where have you seen them play?
What attributes do they have that will make them succeed in the premiership?
I think we are better off leaving the signings we make to professionals who’s job it is to identify the best players for the club
Would you agree?
what
No . Sturridges awareness is poor . Both need to be main striker and Suarez is 10 times better
Sturridge will do as a sub
in what way does DS have poor awareness?
Try looking at some matches instead of asking more stupid questions
his awarenessnis * hot. watch the game agaon and you see loads of beautiful flick passes and interlinking play with other players which proves his awareness
ha
in other words you cant explain yourself. you make a comment, someone asks you why you think that, and you have no answer other then throw your toys out of the pram again. there should be an age restriction on this site or maybe for kids like yourself a prenatal guidance hour.
WHY POST OF THE SAKE OF POSTING>
I don’t see the need to debate with a little kid. If you actually bothered to watch the matches there would be no need for me to educate you
obviously the word debate is beyond you!
I’ve ‘debated ‘ with you before K or kumber , you lack football knowledge , it’s a waste of time . I find your arguments naive and childish
Clueless as always kumber
reina, johnson, kelly, agger, digne. lucas, gerrard, macarthy. coutinhio, suarez.sturridge.
subs .. alderweild, enrique, wanyama, henderson, downing, mcmanamen, borini.
wisdom, illori, allen, sterling, Jones?.
sale skrtel, carrol, coates, pacheo, spearing, assaidi. wilson and gulasci free.
prob wont get all those players but those types are needed. important to get a more quality squad to get the consitency for top 4.
I also prefer coutinhio through middle so maybe macarthy isnt needed ? and maybe zouma instead of alderweild. oppinions ??
also whoose a gd keeper liverpool can afford to provide better competition than jones
Lol. This isn’t fifa
Your all hot air fotheringham…… You don’t know jack so wind your neck in
Sturidge shouldnt partner suarez at all bcos it makes him look more poor and selfish. Let suarez play as a lone striker and sturidge as a winger or sub
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spot on cum 2013/14 season
No doubt that DS being skilled and wonderful player with required need pace to thrill opponent defence, the only problem with DS which BR is expected to do something about is ask DS improve his selfishness of ball pass to another LFC player, few games we watched him play alongside other striker DS would either pass late or not even as the other strikers run uncovered. This is the same mistakes chelsea saw to keep him on the bench & subsequntly sell him to LFC. He was fed to score goals against newcastle and fulham but failed severally to pass the ball to others who would had scored, in both games we won so fans did not realized. Suarez is world class type, he can play at wings and attack. He is also selfish and dribles alot to allow opponent defence re-group. Todays football is not one man game but one touch and team work. If suarez won’t improve his discpline( diving and respect to opponent players) he will be definatly be liability to LFC. He now faced with 18 match ban. BR needs to couch this guy’s emotions.
Don’t think sturridge is top class. We need a top striker to partner ssuarez.
Oh great fotheringham..could you impart more of your sage-like knowledge about football to us? I was going to e-mail Prof Steven Hawking to clarify some aspects of quantum theory but since I’m sure you are not only an expert in football,would you do us the honour of sharing your wisdom about physics and philosophy too..thankyou oh great one!
Sturridge is a good finisher but he lacks so much to be considered a really top player
He is greedy and not a team player. He doesn’t look up to pick a pass . To me , he is s back up striker when Suarez is injured that’s all
Even though Sturidge has broken the record at lfc for quickest 10 goals. Some mug like david still has a pop at him.
Your allways on here mouthing off about something. Wind your neck in you loser and let the pro’s do what they do
Clueless…….
Well said hutch and fran at least there is some people on here with a bit of sense.
Sturridge to selfish to be our number one striker. Ha. All good strikers have a selfish side to them. Suarez most of the time is selfish himself.
Also the other clowns or should I say clown, first it is terry and then it switches to fartherham to continue the fight as the same person. Ha. And if more then one person disagrees with him(them) he says they are obviously the same person posting under a different name.
Like they are doing such a good job ?
Your the clueless one if you think everythings going to be ok with fsg and their yes man Rodgers to guide us
He’s a nob mate, he thinks he knows it all but he’s full of sh1t.
Thinks he’s the oricle ha ha