Daniel Sturridge

[Fivex]

Can you not drive a bus through beef?

Of course not, obvious isn't it?

[Yozza]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/jan/06/liverpool-mansfield-daniel-sturridge

Daniel Sturridge debut illustrates Liverpool's new wealth of options

How well the new striker and Luis Suárez link up for Liverpool remains to be seen after the win at Mansfield but Brendan Rodgers now has flexibility in attack

The Guardian, Sunday 6 January 2013 20.28 GMT Jump to comments (146)

It was a match against the most limited opposition Liverpool will encounter all season but this felt like a particularly important debut for Daniel Sturridge. Before the game Brendan Rodgers had declared Sturridge would become Liverpool's first-choice centre-forward, implying that Luis Suárez would be forced to play a different role for the remainder of the season. "Daniel's best position is as a central striker," he said. "His best position will be straight through the middle with his pace."

For the trip to Field Mill not only did Rodgers throw Sturridge straight into the starting line-up in a central position but he rested Suárez. It meant Sturridge was unquestionably the star attraction – there was no danger of the Uruguayan frustrating him by taking up central positions, or making the same runs, and the perfect chance for the £12m signing to make the position his own.

Jonjo Shelvey and Daniel Sturridge combined excellently throughout the first half, particularly for the opener.

Photograph: Graphic It took seven minutes for Sturridge to get off the mark, with a cool right-foot finish from a Jonjo Shelvey through-ball.



Sturridge, like Arsenal's Theo Walcott, has outlined his determination to play through the middle rather than wide on the right, pointing to Thierry Henry's tactical transformation as an inspiration. This opening goal was reminiscent of the Frenchman – starting in the inside-left channel and receiving a pass that bisected the opposition centre-backs, before finishing first-time towards the far post.

The calibre of opposition made it difficult to gauge how effective Sturridge will be in the Premier League but his relationship with Shelvey was unquestionably promising. The young midfielder was afforded far too much space and repeatedly played clever passes in behind the defence – Sturridge should have grabbed a second after a move that was a mirror image of the first goal. Stewart Downing and Suso stayed wide, pulling the Mansfield full-backs towards the touchlines and increasing the amount of space the centre-backs were forced to cover. Against a player of Sturridge's pace, and with a disorganised offside trap, they stood little chance.

The debutant's performance is likely to influence Rodgers' selection for next weekend's trip to Old Trafford and he says Suárez will be happy to change role. "The idea was bringing in players that were multi-functional, who can play in a couple of positions," Rodgers said after the game, indicating that the duo will be switched from week to week. "I'll consider each game, depending on the opponent, when we see the areas we can exploit." Suárez, in the most prolific season of his career, with Ajax, was used on the right of a front three.

Yet it is a significant gamble to move him away from a permanently central role. It is only in 2012-13 that the Uruguayan has converted his significant talent into sheer efficiency in the Premier League – he is the second-top goalscorer with 15, one behind Robin van Persie. Previously Suárez's meagre goal return at Liverpool was the most blatant weakness in his game, which was at least partly attributable to him being deployed in a variety of positions under Kenny Dalglish – sometimes up front alone, sometimes just off Andy Carroll, sometimes wider in a front three.

For fitness reasons Suárez replaced Sturridge against Mansfield, rather than played alongside him, denying us the opportunity to see how they will combine in future. Suárez grabbed the controversial second goal, staking his own claim for that central position.

Statistics indicate that Sturridge's chance conversion rate is superior to Suárez's in the past couple of years but that does not necessarily mean he would be a more potent striker. Suárez remains such a tricky opponent because of his sheer persistence and determination – he has recorded 123 shots in the Premier League this season, 34 more than any other player. A large proportion of those attempts are half-chances he creates for himself, something Sturridge is less capable of. You can forgive Suárez for failing to score from situations few others would find themselves in, especially when finding the net so frequently.

Fabio Borini will return to training this week after recovering from a broken foot, which means that all of Liverpool's first-choice front three will be quick, versatile attackers, all capable of playing wide or through the centre. Suso and Raheem Sterling, both overplayed at such an early stage of their career, can become the alternative rather than the default. Suddenly Liverpool have a plethora of attacking options. Suárez has scored 44% of Liverpool's goals this season – only Newcastle have been more reliant on one striker, the recently departed Demba Ba – and Sturridge will help Liverpool spread the goals around.

[Maxiedge]

That diagram is amazing

[Yozza]

That diagram is amazing

Taken from 'Advanced Football Tactics & Coaching Techniques for 7-11 Year Olds' by El Matador....

[McDermotX]

It all makes sense now, this football lark.

Someone make sure this gets forwarded to Brendan.

[Baracus]

We've gone from no options to a wealth of options us because of Dan?

[danperkins]

We've gone from no options to a wealth of options us because of Dan?

Me?

[danperkins]

Great finish,good movement ad deceiving pace. interesting to see how he,Suarez and Sterling combine.

[marcus50bucks]

http://audioboo.fm/boos/1144356-liverpool-daniel-sturridge-on-his-goal-and-his-new-employers

The bit at the end

[Mostar]

That diagram is amazing

[Chris]

http://audioboo.fm/boos/1144356-live...-new-employers

The bit at the end

Was good to hear him thanking Robbie Fowler.

[Yozza]

We all like to think it but sadly this isn't true anymore....

Liverpool: There's no bigger club in Premier League - Sturridge

Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge says there is no bigger club than Liverpool in the Premier League, ahead of Sunday's game against Manchester United.

The 23-year-old striker signed for the Reds on 2 January from Chelsea and has also played for current champions Manchester City.

"It is the biggest club I have ever played for," Sturridge told Liverpool's official website.

"In the Premier League, there is no bigger club than Liverpool."

Liverpool and United are the two most decorated clubs in the top flight.

In terms of league titles, United have 19 compared to Liverpool's 18, while the Merseysiders have five European Cup wins to the Old Trafford side's three.

Sturridge scored on his Liverpool debut as his new side beat Mansfield in the FA Cup and is grateful to Reds boss Brendan Rodgers for signing him.

"I thank the boss for giving me an opportunity to play for a club like this and I thank God for making it possible," added Sturridge.

"For the manager to pay money for me and to have faith in me and show everybody around the world that he is prepared to take a chance on me, I don't think I'll ever be able to repay him for that.

"As a young player, when you play for big clubs you can sometimes get caught up in it and you never get another opportunity to play for another big club.

"So I'm grateful the manager has given me this chance and that he believes in me. I'm just glad to be here."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20948372

[Gingawaria]

We all like to think it but sadly this isn't true anymore....

Isn't it?

There may be better teams than us but there's only United who can claim they're bigger. As a footballing institution, we're still massive. City and Chelsea can only dream of having the same sort of fanbase that we do.

[Yozza]

Isn't it?

There may be better teams than us but there's only United who can claim they're bigger. As a footballing institution, we're still massive. City and Chelsea can only dream of having the same sort of fanbase that we do.

1989–90 Liverpool
1990–91 Arsenal
1991–92 Leeds United
1992–93 Manchester United
1993–94 Manchester United
1994–95 Blackburn Rovers
1995–96 Manchester United
1996–97 Manchester United
1997–98 Arsenal
1998–99 Manchester United
1999–2000 Manchester United
2000–01 Manchester United
2001–02 Arsenal
2002–03 Manchester United
2003–04 Arsenal
2004–05 Chelsea
2005–06 Chelsea
2006–07 Manchester United
2007–08 Manchester United
2008–09 Manchester United
2009–10 Chelsea
2010–11 Manchester United
2011–12 Manchester City

Fair point but I guess it all depends on how you define a big club - fan base wise or success wise? 'Big' clubs don't go 20+ years without winning the Title.... just looking at that is bloody depressing

[Tee]

Makes pretty sad reading that table. Cannot believe how young I was when we were last Champs.

We are too passive about the title and winning it, forever stuck in rebuilding programmes. Well, I have said it before and I will keep harping on about it but the league title must become the absolute obsession for this club. We have to start building a momentum on and off the pitch and that must be our dream, our target every single season. It will only happen that way IMO.