Will The Real Daniel Sturridge Please Stand Up?

Daniel Sturridge has the best “goals to minutes” ratio of any Liverpool player in the Premier League, better than the likes of Michael Owen, Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres. That might have something to do with the fact that the England forward has played an average of just six minutes of every 90 minutes his team has played over its past 50 games. The Liverpool forward’s career looks bleak at present but it could take a big turnaround in the remaining six games if he can stay fit.

Liverpool has won only one game when Sadio Mane has not been available and has lacked a killer touch all season. The stage seems to be set for Sturridge to reassert himself and write his name into the Liverpool history books. There are several problems with Daniel returning to the starting 11 but most are to do with his attitude rather than his finishing capabilities.

As much as Jurgen Klopp needs his Liverpool side to storm into a good run of form for the final games of the season to get the club back among the European giants, he will continue to protect his own ego. Klopp’s attempts to protecting his ego and his team selection have come under fire from pundits on a regular basis this season. The Liverpool boss’s strict style of man-management led to Mamadou Sakho being loaned out for not turning up to a dinner, a tough approach that means the route back into the first team won’t be an easy one for Sturridge.

The England man has often been criticised for not wanting to press opposition defenders in attacking areas. He has also failed to applaud home supporters, which is something Klopp has publicly expressed his frustration about. But the biggest problem of all is Daniel’s fitness.

If it all falls into place in terms of fitness and attitude it will still remain to be seen how Sturridge would fit into the Liverpool starting line-up. Some may argue that he should take the central striker role over Divock Origi but the young Belgian’s desire to close down long balls into the Liverpool penalty area to help protect the defence helps to keep him in Klopp’s good books.

One thing is certain, to avoid another failed season Liverpool needs the Daniel Sturridge who was firing a goal every 1.57 games under Brendan Rodgers. If he does not show up it may be the end for him and back to the drawing board for Jurgen Klopp and co.

by Nubaid Haroon  Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCtMg-fWm7awR41vM1GhVOkA  Twitter: twitter.com/rambofyi

The post Will The Real Daniel Sturridge Please Stand Up? appeared first on Felix Magazine.