Daniel Sturridge

[Gibbo]

Yeah I didn't want him either.

In fact I really really didn't want him.

Big enough to admit I was wrong though.

[banditos]

How will being religious help him reach his potential?

By blessing his boots?

[Bender]

Neil Jones @neiljonesecho 2m
Daniel Sturridge travelling with LFC squad to Dublin this evening. They fly at 6pm.

[Shaggy]

Yeah I didn't want him either.

In fact I really really didn't want him.

Big enough to admit I was wrong though.

Same. Still think the odd concern was valid...he can be prone to being too greedy and when he's bad he's very frustrating. But he's a lot, lot better than I thought he was. A steal at the price.

[Neil Young]

Dusting derailer.

[Kinell]

Seems to be well on his way to ideal fitness, do you think we'll see him start, maybe feature late on or not play at all in the Stoke game?

[Norbs]

Yeah I didn't want him either.

In fact I really really didn't want him.

Big enough to admit I was wrong though.

I really really did. Always thought he looked clinical, dangerous and up for it. I'm usually wrong though so I kept my moosh shut

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Seems to be well on his way to ideal fitness, do you think we'll see him start, maybe feature late on or not play at all in the Stoke game?

I think Rodgers is doing his best to get him ready for the weekend, but IMO its just too much of a rush, he'll definitely be involved though. I think ideally we give him 15-20 minutes when we're 2-0 up.

Wonder if we'll see Alberto getting a start? We really needed another attacking player before this game tbh. Coutinho & Aspas will be starting, either with an unfit Sturridge or one of Sterling/Alberto/Ibe with Allen taking up the role in behind them.

[Slinky Skills]

Why do newspapers/journos say that footballers 'Hail' the return of someone when they come back from an injury or suspension?

It's not like they're deity's or anything they're ****ing footballers for christ sake.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Why do newspapers/journos say that footballers 'Hail' the return of someone when they come back from an injury or suspension?

It's not like they're deity's or anything they're ****ing footballers for christ sake.

At least they're not make believe

[Slinky Skills]

At least they're not make believe

What you trying to say like!

[marcus50bucks]

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge question and answer session
Young Liverpool and England forward reveals his sporting influences, what tracks get him going and who has the biggest banter at the club.

Daniel_Sturridge_2640376b.jpg

By Telegraph Sport
12:01AM BST 16 Aug 2013

Where have you been on holiday this summer?

Miami and Jamaica. I always like to go back to the homeland in the Caribbean. It’s where my family are from and it’s a beautiful place.

What sport have you watched this summer?

The Confederations Cup and The Ashes. Also the MLB Finals. I’m a Miami Heat fan but not a glory hunter. I met LeBron James in Miami. There’s much respect there.

What tunes are you listening to?

Party Next Door and Jesse Ware. I love hip hop and the Jamaican influence in my dance music.

What is your favourite TV show?

Luther. Idris Elba is the black James Bond. I loved him in The Wire too. He’s got the full range. I’m telling you, when Daniel Craig steps aside he should be the man. The best of British.

Favourite film. And film star. And if someone had to play you in a movie?

Any Given Sunday, for its inspiration. My favourite actors are Jamie Foxx and Denzel Washington. I’d be happy for Denzel to play me.

Favourite other sportsman ever (apart from Muhammad Ali)

Floyd Mayweather. A supreme entertainer. A guy who was great to listen to, always delivered and who matured with age. Good example to follow.

Favourite reading material – book/magazines?

The Bible and there’s a book called Prisoner to the Streets by Robyn Travis. I have a signed copy from the author.

Best place to go out – up north – and down south

In Liverpool all the players love the San Carlo restaurant. In London it would be Novikov restaurant and bar or Jack’s bar.

What is your car – and what was your first car?

I drive a Porsche Panamera now, but my first car was a rented I Series BMW. Make sure you stress it was rented!

Most embarrassing moment in career?

I’m not sure if embarrassing is the right word, but missing a penalty for Team GB at the Olympics was probably a low point for me as a player.

IN LIVERPOOL SQUAD WHO IS ...

Biggest poser/spends most time grooming?

Jose Enrique. I feel bad for saying so, but really he’s streets ahead of any of the competition on that score.

Worst clothes?

Sorry, but it’s Jose again! Listen, I’ve got big love for the guy but sometimes he just does not dress himself right. What can I say?

Biggest headphones?

We’ve got a fair share of those who like their tunes and I’d probably have to say my headphones are as big as any. But it doesn’t mean I’ve got the biggest head!

Keenest in training/biggest health freak?

Steve Gerrard and Lucas are the best trainers. Lucas really puts the hours in and earns everyone’s respect. The health freak is Brad Jones. He loves that protein.

Funniest – intentionally/unintentionally

We have a good banter in our squad with the likes of Glen Johnson and Raheem Sterling, but the man who makes the lads laugh most is Zaf Iqbal, our club doctor, he’s the king of medicine.

OPPOSITION – WHO/WHAT IS ...

Hardest player to play against

The toughest so far have been Thiago Silva and Jan Vertonghen. They read the game so well. I’ve had my moments against both, but they’re top defenders.

Best ground played at?

Anfield, obviously, but also the San Siro and Wembley. They’re all very special venues for any footballer.

Best goal scored?

I scored a back-heel for Chelsea against Sunderland at the start of the 2011-12 season. It was off the cuff and something I’d worked on in training.

Best goal seen scored?

I was on the pitch when Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored that amazing goal for Sweden against England last season. Unbelievable.

Favourite player ever seen play?

Thierry Henry was my favourite player as a youngster. He was inspirational to watch.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/10234374/Liverpool-striker-Daniel-Sturridge-question-and-answer-session.html

[marcus50bucks]

Family man Sturridge is proud of his Liver herd

134455080_sturridge_441758c.jpg

Alyson Rudd
Last updated at 12:01AM, August 16 2013

Exclusive: Brother and cousin put the accent on keeping striker grounded on Merseyside as he makes his way at Anfield

Something is different. To paraphrase Andie MacDowell in Groundhog Day: “There is something going on with you, Daniel Sturridge.” In fact there is plenty going on, but the most obvious change in the Liverpool striker since he left Chelsea in January is that he has adopted not a Scouse accent, but a much broader Brummie one.

The reason for this is at the heart of why he has blossomed at Anfield and worked hard to ensure that he is fit for the first game of the new campaign against Stoke City. Smack bang in the middle of Liverpool, close to the Liver Building, Sturridge has established Team Danny.

Living with him in his flat with views of the Mersey is his brother Leon and his cousin Sean. They have moved from their Birmingham home to be with the England striker. “They make sure I keep my head down, keep me grounded,” Sturridge says. “They don’t take any prisoners, I’ve got to be on my best behaviour.”

Sturridge is not laughing as he says this. He is serious and he is grateful to them. This is much more than a marginal gain in Sturridge’s sporting life. It took Leon and Sean two months to sort out their relocation and that resulted in what Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, called teething problems for his centre forward.

“I felt very welcome, but the first couple of months were difficult,” Sturridge says. The extended Sturridge clan went to Jamaica on holiday in the summer before the 23-year-old started his rehabilitation on an ankle injury.

Sturridge is one of the few Premier League footballers with a family who give advice and support while knowing exactly what they are talking about. Daniel’s uncle is Dean Sturridge, the former striker for Derby County. Michael, Daniel’s father, was a reserve-team player for Birmingham City and Daniel’s uncle, Simon, played for Stoke.

It is tempting to imagine his family gathered together to discuss how the most famous Sturridge of them all could best succeed after joining Brendan Rodgers’s team.

“It was my decision,” Sturridge says of living with Leon and Sean. “I’m very family orientated. I speak to my parents on a daily basis and to my sister and my niece and I thought, moving to a new city, it was only right I had people close to me to keep me grounded. They are part of the success I’ve had so far at Liverpool. They are sharing the highs and lows, we’re going through everything together.”

Sturridge has been struck by how welcoming the people of Liverpool have been. “It’s a beautiful place to live,” he says. “It is different, it’s more of a family city. You ask for directions or a good place to eat and everybody’s happy to talk to you.

“In Liverpool it is all about football. It’s incredible to be a part of it. It rubs off on the players and rubs off on the staff. It makes you a passionate footballer. I’ve had so many messages from the fans. I posted photos of my rehab and their messages kept me going.”

Sturridge surprised the backroom staff with his rate of recovery after twisting his ankle and damaging ligaments while on duty with England in May. “They gave me a hard time and I gave them a hard time,” he says. “The footballer puts the work in and the physios have the knowledge. It’s been great to get to know them properly.”

The other positive element to being injured was that it gave him time to reflect on his journey from the youth academy at Aston Villa to Liverpool via Manchester City and Chelsea.

“It was a period for me to assess my career, assess my life, assess everything that I’ve been though and how far I’ve come and I thank God for pulling me through, he says.

This is something else that is different. While at Stamford Bridge, Sturridge was a little cagey about his spirituality.

“I’m just more open about it,” he says. “I wasn’t scared to talk about it. I believe what I believe and there is no problem if someone else doesn’t believe.

“I’ve grown up a bit. I know what I need and what I don’t need. I read the Bible a lot more than I used to and I pray a lot more than I used to. When I was young I was not as confident about expressing who I am. I don’t like to be out there doing crazy things.”

It feels as if joining Liverpool has given him a fresh start. At Chelsea there had been a misconception that he was arrogant.

“I’ve had an opportunity with Liverpool to show what I can do it,” he says. “You can only express who you are on the field. In the past I might have come across as a sulky person, but I’m just very driven and keep myself to myself.

“I am very approachable. I always show the fans love and respect, but I’m not loud when it comes to football. Before, there was a misinterpretation of who I was as a person. Then, when people meet me, they change their opinions.”

All the same, for a striker to be a success, he needs to have a ruthless and selfish streak, doesn’t he?

“You have to be ruthless but you don’t have to be selfish,” he says. “When I was playing with Chelsea, I spoke to Didier Drogba, a legend at the club. He told me that when you give you get. You don’t give to receive; it just happens that way. The most important thing is the relationship with your team-mates. I like to get assists. It’s not about glory, it’s about being part of a successful unit.”

With that in mind, and with Luis Suárez suspended for the the first six matches of the new campaign, Rodgers has been at pains to underline how well Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho, the young Brazil midfielder, link up.

“We’re on the same wavelength,” Sturridge says. “I’m a little bit older than him but we get along very well on and off the field. We understand each other’s game. To have a player of his talent with me makes for a great relationship.”

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/premierleague/article3844055.ece

[Kenneth]

He's ace. England's best striker.

[Shaggy]

He seems a really good bloke.