Daniel Sturridge

[Muddled]

have we a song for dan yet?

Like MJ 'Bad'

You know he's bad' he's bad, really really bad..you know he can't dance, can't dance' he really really can't

[Mostar]

He did get caught, but he made such a meal of it; made it look so ridiculous; that it looked like an outright dive.

I'm so glad it wasn't Luis as I can imagine what type of reaction that would cause..

[Mostar]

[Chazza]

After a blistering start to his Liverpool career, questions are starting to be asked of Daniel Sturridge

THE ink was still wet on Daniel Sturridge’s Anfield contract when Liverpool’s latest acquisition was handed a friendly but firm warning.

“The biggest thing is his hunger to perform,” said Brendan Rodgers. “We are bringing in a player who knows he has to perform as he will be playing with one of the biggest clubs in the world.

“He has got quality. If he wants to stay at the top level, this is probably his last chance.”

Having seen his career stall at Chelsea after blazing a trail through the youth ranks into the first team at Manchester City, Sturridge himself accepted there would be few if any further opportunities to make the grade among the Premier League’s elite.

Now, three months into his Liverpool career, the questions that followed the 23-year-old from Eastlands to Stamford Bridge are being asked at Anfield.

Will the real Daniel Sturridge please step forward?

Sturridge made an instant impact on completing his £12million transfer from Chelsea in early January, scoring after just seven minutes in the FA Cup win at non-league Mansfield Town – the quickest goal by a full Liverpool debutant since Bob Glassey in 1935.

The striker went on to score five goals in his first seven games – including a memorable strike in the 2-2 draw at former club City – to seemingly silence the naysayers.

Then, just as swiftly, the doubts began to creep back in.

A lackadaisical performance in the win over Tottenham Hotspur prompted audible discontent from the Anfield crowd, while Sturridge was similarly ineffective in the costly defeat at Southampton.

Despite finding the target against San Marino while on international duty for England, the forward was an unused substitute for the first time since arriving at Liverpool during last week’s 2-1 win at Aston Villa.

It wasn’t a complete surprise. Rodgers had dropped a hint before the Villa Park visit that Sturridge needs to work harder as the spearhead of the team.

“I’ve spoken to him about it,” said the Northern Irishman. “Daniel has only just come into the club and it’s a new way of working for him.

“The striker drives the train. Look at Rush, Dalglish and how hard these guys worked. This club has had a number nine that works his socks off.

“Luis Suarez has been playing in the number nine position and is a great leader. That’s where it starts, up there.”

Rodgers had clear misgivings about how Sturridge could accommodate his philosophy having passed up the opportunity to attempt to sign the striker back in August.

Come January, however, and the mood had changed, the manager perhaps having his arm twisted by Fenway Sports Group’s preference for young English talent and certainly desperate to ease the burden on the overworked Suarez.

Then there are concerns over Sturridge’s fitness.

Asked recently which of Suarez’s qualities he would most want, rather than pointing to the Uruguayan’s work ethic, Sturridge responded: “I’d have his fitness. He must be a man of steel or something. He is iron man, isn’t he?

“He gets so many kicks and he doesn’t seem to feel it, whereas I get a few niggles here and there and it’s very frustrating because it kills the momentum I’m having.”

Indeed. Sturridge has already missed more games for Liverpool through injury than Suarez has in more than two years at the club, twice sidelined with a thigh problem having missed almost two months earlier in the campaign with Chelsea due to a hamstring problem.

Sturridge will be hopeful of forcing his way back into the starting line-up for Sunday’s visit of West Ham United, which will give the striker a reminder of how Rodgers will not hesitate in moving on those he believes do not fit his approach.

Back in August, Andy Carroll was shipped out to Upton Park on a season-long loan, the terms of which mean he will be unavailable to play against his parent club. Joe Cole, also returning to Anfield, is also expected to sit out through injury.

Last weekend’s bench duty gave Sturridge the chance to observe fellow January signing Philippe Coutinho, and he has joined the growing fan club of the Brazilian who now has two goals and three assists in six games since arriving from Inter Milan for £8.5m.

“I’ve been very impressed,” said Sturridge. “He sees things very early, he’s got great vision. He’s a very skilful player and he’s got a powerful shot on him also.

“I think it’ll take time for us to see what he’s really capable of doing because he’s come from a different league, but he’s already showing that he’s got a vast amount of qualities.

“The best is yet to come from him but you’ll see that he’s a very, very special talent.”

While Liverpool still retain an outside chance of securing fifth place and Europa League qualification, Rodgers believes his team’s final seven games represent a chance to ensure they can hit the ground running next season.

“Going into the Southampton game I felt if we won that game it would set us up for the last eight games with real a possibility of building momentum and seeing where it could take us,” says the Northern Irishman.

“Could it get us into the top four? It probably could. But the Southampton game has changed that now. We can’t really look any further than one game at a time now.

“It’s a case for the remaining eight games to finish as strong as we possibly can and looking to make sure we can build a strong platform to start quickly next season.

“We have some performance goals to improve on, such as clean sheets. We got 12 last season, we have 11 so far.

“And we want to continue with our goalscoring form as we are in a good moment offensively.

“It’s about the balance in the team. And if we can do that then hopefully we can have a strong finish to the season.”

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/sport/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2013/04/05/after-a-blistering-start-to-his-liverpool-career-questions-are-starting-to-be-asked-of-daniel-sturridge-99623-33112089/2/

[Tee]

I think that is a bit harsh to say the least. He has been injured and that is the only worrying thing about him to date. Fully fit and playing there is no doubt he improves the team.

[Sarb]

Bit harsh on Sturridge that. Only a couple of iffy games and that is with being in and out of the team with injuries

[Chris]

Snide piece that, obviously someone who never rated him and couldnt wait for the chance to have a dig. God forbid a player has a bad game when struggling with injury.

[BigChief]

Strangely timed and worded article. Not saying it might not be true but Sturridge was the media darling before his injury and two games back from injury he's being questioned, instead of allowed to find his fitness/form.

In other news, did anyone know RvP has scored 1 goal in his last 9 games or something. No, that's just tiredness obviously. Probably still win POTY though.

[Reece]

In 9 games for us, he's scored five goals whilst Welbeck has only scored 2 for Man Utd in 35 games

Not relevant really but still funny.

[Sarb]

Ian Doyle is a bitter I believe. I don't remember the Anfield crowd getting on his back in the Spurs game either

[Bender]

that really is a silly article .......sturridge has shown what he can do but for lack of fitness and injuries this season is a write off for him and he can start fresh next season

[BigChief]

In 9 games for us, he's scored five goals whilst Welbeck has only scored 2 for Man Utd in 35 games

Not relevant really but still funny.

Hugely funny. And when I comment on this on Redcafe, likening him to Kuyt, they take great offence. Its absolutely brilliant.

[Reece]

Hugely funny. And when I comment on this on Redcafe, likening him to Kuyt, they take great offence. Its absolutely brilliant.

Pfft. Kuyt scored for Fenerbahce against Lazio in the Europa League last night

[Pablo]

Hugely funny. And when I comment on this on Redcafe, likening him to Kuyt, they take great offence. Its absolutely brilliant.

What are you doing on Redcafe? Craig?

[BobTheCharmer]

Good player but he seems to always be carrying knocks and misses games because of them. I mentioned that before he signed. Hopefully he'll bag a few more in the remaining games. Lot still to prove before he's classed a success. Looking forward to him bagging 20+ next season.