WIND back to the first day of May — when Daniel Sturridge hadn’t appeared for Liverpool since the Reds’ defeat at Hull City in February — and few would have tipped him to be part of Jürgen Klopp’s plans for next season.
That there would be a parting of ways come the summer seemed to be the general consensus — with Klopp said to be frustrated with player and player frustrated with Klopp.
Just 144 minutes of Liverpool action later, made up of four substitute appearances and 87 minutes versus West Ham on Sunday, and the pendulum of popular opinion appears to be swinging in a different direction.
Can manager and player now picture a bright future together? Are the wriggly arms set to be a key part of Liverpool’s best moments in 2017-18?
It appears every Red has an opinion on it and at The Anfield Wrap it’s no different. Here, JOSH SEXTON argues Daniel Sturridge should stay at Anfield, while GARETH ROBERTS thinks the striker’s days are numbered at Liverpool.
Who do agree with? Let us know below.
Stay?
DANIEL Sturridge’s performance against West Ham was the icing on the cake after a series of promising cameo appearances since his latest return to fitness.
A well-taken goal off the back of a show of great anticipation to allow Philippe Coutinho to thread the ball between the Hammers’ back three was the highlight of a display which demonstrated all the best qualities of Sturridge.
A lot is made of his loss of pace, but the presence of mind he showed to get in behind defences is a quality possessed only by strikers who have mastered their trade.
No Liverpool supporter will doubt Sturridge’s ability. The offer of a fully-fit Sturridge heading into next season alongside Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane is a mouth-watering prospect. The issue has almost always been keeping him fit.
The suggestions about his attitude and lack of application in a red shirt have remained baseless, barring half-shouts off the back of Jürgen Klopp’s advice about the difference between ‘pain’ and ‘serious pain’. Klopp clearly wants what is best for Sturridge as well as what is best for the club.
Sturridge is a player good enough to be dining at Europe’s top table. A home win over Middlesbrough guarantees that Liverpool will be able to offer that next season. On the club’s part, players of Sturridge’s ability don’t come along often. His goalscoring record at the club speaks for itself — 60 goals in 118 games. To replace that would set the Reds back substantially, and even then there don’t seem to be many players of that ilk around who the club could realistically attract.
The best way forward for both parties would be an ultimatum of sorts. Klopp could sit down with Sturridge prior to pre-season and make it clear that he has until January to prove his fitness and make some form of telling contribution to a Liverpool side that will have to be set up to fight on four fronts, otherwise they will look to sell him on their own terms.
From the club’s point of view, they would have a world-class striker with a point to prove and the motivation of being able to participate in the Champions League if he can remain fit. If he can’t, they will be able to cash in, if they believe he’s worth a reported £40million his value is hardly going to fall off a cliff between the summer transfer window and January.
People will question whether Sturridge would be happy to compete for places and have to deal with not regularly starting games.
But he surely owes it to the club to give it one last shot. Liverpool has stuck by him through some of the lowest points of his career injury-wise.
Now, he could play a part in helping Liverpool achieve their targets – in the Premier League, the FA Cup, the League Cup and hopefully the Champions League.
He also has two years left of a lucrative four-year contract. What other club is offering him that deal and that opportunity? And wouldn’t it just be a sorry state of affairs to see a peak-age Sturridge performing at another Premier League club?
https://twitter.com/TheAnfieldWrap/status/864467701183504385
We spoke about Daniel Sturridge’s future in our main FREE show this week, here’s a clip to give you a taste:
"It does make you want to ask 'What about next season?'
The Debate around Daniel Sturridge….
Listen in full: https://t.co/4LWgI7nFTn pic.twitter.com/LfqaSTjGCN— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) May 16, 2017
Go?
DANIEL Sturridge was fantastic versus West Ham.
From early on it was clear he was at it: intelligent runs, finding space, keeping possession and bollocking team-mates for not releasing the ball quick enough.
He looked like he was out to prove a point.
Then came the stuff that matters: an expertly-taken goal and a crucial part in another one that left Aaron Cresswell for dead.
When Sturridge latched on to Philippe Coutinho’s perfectly weighted through ball there was never a doubt he’d put it in the net. You wouldn’t want any other player in red on the end of that chance.
The 27-year-old is a top-class goalscorer, a difference-maker, a match-winner – none of this is news. A look at his goal-scoring record for Liverpool tells you all you need to know about his finishing ability – at 60 goals in 118 appearances it’s better than one in two; a phenomenal ratio.
As we know all too well though, the problem is getting Sturridge on the pitch regularly. Since he banged in 21 goals in 2013-14, he has started just 24 of Liverpool’s 113 Premier League games.
How do you keep him fit? How do you stop his body failing him? It’s frustrating for us, frustrating for him, but ultimately Liverpool have to deal in hard facts.
It became clear that Jürgen Klopp felt he couldn’t trust the forward’s fitness and he created a system that allowed Liverpool to win games and pick up points minus the craft of one England’s finest goal-scorers.
Whereas Klopp’s predecessor Brendan Rodgers would repeatedly bemoan his absence, the German ensured the Reds are no longer reliant on Sturridge.
https://youtu.be/BbbBeJhNG_k
It’s a situation unlikely to change. Sunday’s performance was superb – a demonstration of all the good things that Sturridge can do. But over the course of a season that could stretch to 50 or 60 games next season, can Klopp rely on him to be available for the majority of those matches? Stats and history say no.
Sturridge has two years left on his contract, reportedly worth £150,000-a-week. This season he has played in 19 of Liverpool’s 37 Premier League games. Whether through fitness, form or being out of favour, when crunching the numbers do they add up?
A return of seven goals, just three in the league, is a travesty in statistics for a man of Sturridge’s talent.
And with slots for £150,000-a-week players presumably at a premium, can Liverpool afford to keep Sturridge on the books as a bit-part player?
Further, does Sturridge want to stick around knowing he isn’t first choice?
Sturridge has been at his best when all around him is set up to suit, as it was at West Ham. But the tactics on show in London represented a departure for Klopp. With Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane fit, does Sturridge get a look-in?
Much has been made of his powers being on the wane, his once explosive pace not being as evident. Yet Sturridge showed versus West Ham that he is still a potent threat.
The smart money, sadly, is on a parting of ways. Sturridge must crave regular football. He likes to be the main man. He deserves to be. And surely a club out there is willing to make him just that.
The likely alternative – a season of frustration, a season often watching from the sidelines – surely doesn’t hold much appeal for a man who loves to score, loves to win and loves to do it in style.
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One thing I’ve noticed is he looks physically bigger & stronger, he also looked to have that zip & yard of pace back too. Keep for sure, worth the gamble
A lot of fans have very short memories in a certain respect . If Sturridge hadn’t scored and played bad against West Ham and you did a cite for stay or go I’d bet my bottom dollar the outcome would be completely different . If we had lost 4-0 loads and I did a vote for Klopp stay or go I’m pretty confident more would be saying Klopp out but if I were to do a vote Klopp out or in after a 4-0 win against West Ham then I don’t notice 1 fan complain about him . Most fans tend to go by what they’ve just seen . Sturridge is a great striker to have when fit but he’s never going to be fit . Just because he’s just played 1 full game and scored doesn’t mean he’s become injury free overnight . 1 more season ? Hasn’t he had enough seasons already ? He’s got to go for me unfortunately because I don’t see him staying injury free enough to make z big difference to our season and we’re not made of money so having a £150 thou a week £30+ Mill player on the sidelines for most of the season seems a waste when we could be using that money on someone else unless Sturridge is the only decent striker on the planet available to us ???i know a lot of fans will be clinging onto that hope he might have an injury freeish season but the chances are extremely slim if you ask me and with the extra games from champs league possibly , will only make it worse and more essential we have at least 1 quality striker that can play the majority of the season . That’s not Sturridge that’s for sure .
The only issue is can you replace Sturridge with a better striker? If not Make him fight for his place
It’s a real difficult one. Like most, I love Sturridge. Fully fit he’s up there with Aguero as the most natural goalscorer in the league. Trouble is, as we all know, he’s virtually never fully fit. At 27 injury-prone players don’t suddenly become like Suarez, who hardly misses a game – just ask the likes of Fabio Aurelio or even further back Gary Gillespie. If we could definitely get £40m. for him then put it towards quality like Mbappe, if we could get him. You might have to double that or more to get him but it’s a no-brainer – you don’t lose money on quality.
Keep Sturridge, if he fits into Klopp’s plan B. His injuries make him a gamble but I would still keep him.
I just hope Klopp has a Plan B and C next season, especially with the Defense.
I was full of it after West Ham. “We won’t get better, his injury record is very slowly moving in the right direction, Sunday was leanest I’ve seen him”. I wondered whether it was the new hairstyle but he looked primed. Today, the euphoria has worn off. It’s time to move on. We’re like a bloke who’s never had a girlfriend and when the girl at bus stop smiles at him, because she’s pleasant, he falls madly in love and thinks he’s in. Misinterpreting as positivity, in our desperation for success, will lead to heartache. “We’ll just use him sparingly and he’ll be alright”. “His injuries are behind him”. When laid bare, what is the chance of that being the reality for next season? 30%?, 50%? I wouldn’t put my money any higher. So, when all weighed up I feel it’s too much of a gamble still. We need to be good a lot next season. We need a good striker. For all we know we could buy that Gremio lad and he could take the same path as Suarez. Or someone else could be another Torres. Due to the wages we can’t have 2 and keep him as a bit part striker. It’s him or no-one. I’m sick of the set backs. I’m sick of the disappointment of forwards coming off the bench that you know wouldn’t score in ten hours. In an ideal world defo and everything would be great. In this world of constantly having our hopes dashed with another injury I’d rather we were bold, put our neck on the line and strive for a better solution, taking it out of the hands of destiny.
Just did one of them online surveys questioning should he stay or go. Voted go. 80% disagreed. I like your smiling girl at the bus stop analogy- seems like she’s still smiling 3 days later:).
Ha, it just seems like 1 good game in 3 years and everyone’s lost their head. Smitten. I think the signals we’re picking up are wrong. We shouldn’t base our future on 1 smile or 1 good game. The reality is different.
Exactly. Can’t go through another season of this unrequited love- gonna take the train and see who’s smiling on the platform!
Haha, exactly!
Studge tends to score in batches, lets see what he does against Boro, could of posed this question after 2 games at least, not one. He’s got to be Reds most graceful player since Barnes. When fit, he’s a special talent, up there with the best in Europe, the way he works it on to left foot and gets a shot off, even though defender knows what he’s going to do, genius, too good not to take a gamble on. Say get 10 big games out of him, worth it He’s a big game player, Couts to Studge, is so beautiful in its simplicity instead having to score such intricate goals. To get in a striker of his quality, will cost more than £150k a week I think
I want him to stay. That’s all.
I love watching Sturridge play for us. Only Coutinho and Lallana can match him for skill, and he is comfortably the best finisher we have.
Should we keep him though? For me the question is not just about his fitness, but more about whether Klopp will deploy him often enough when fit. He has clearly preferred Firmino as a starting option, and has mostly brought Origi on ahead of Sturridge when they have been on the bench. I don’t think Klopp or Sturridge will want to go in to next season with Sturridge as just an expensive Plan B, or Plan C if Klopp goes for another top striker.
I don’t think Firmino scores enough goals to be our preferred (false) 9. He has only 11 league goals at a goal every 272 minutes (Origi scores at a much better rate). He might bring a whole lot more to the team besides goals, but you want better numbers from you first choice number 9. If Sturridge isn’t seen by Klopp as the man to provide those numbers, then Klopp needs someone else, and that relegates Sturridge further down the pecking order.
I hope I am watching Sturridge wiggling his arms on a regular basis for Liverpool next season, but I don’t think it will happen.
Ultimately it is up to Daniel himself and Klopp.
If we got a big offer (from a top club ???? Not english please) then I think it would be goodbye. So that is scenario number one.
The next scenario, Daniel leaving for a lower level english club, not so sure I see it for him. Maybe a historical european club Milan or something like that but it would likely as not cost us rather than earn us anything. What would be the point ?
That leaves him staying for the next season here. This is what I think will happen unless Klopp makes it clear he will not be getting many games at all.
Henderson spoke of Suarez and how he seemed to play through pain. He never saw him in the treatment room but he saw him get plenty of knocks and worse in games and training. One day he noticed Luis couldn’t get a boot on before a match. He saw his foot was badly bruised and swollen. Suarez got himself a bigger boot, said nothing, played his usual demonic self and scored a fabulous free kick in that bigger boot covering a foot in pain. Can’t see Dan doing that. Can’t rely on him anymore. Can’t afford to take risks at the bigger table if we’re in the CL and hunting for the Title and need players to play come what may.
£20-30m could go a long way to finding another busy bee in the F,C,M,L,H brigade with £150k/w or £15m in 2 years saved wages to attract such a player. Leroy Sane and Gabrielle Jesus were not big name players this time last year but Guardiola knew of them (what if that kid Jesus hadn’t missed most of his 5-month debut?…).
Klopp knows there’s more of their kind around that would come to a CL Liverpool. He knows he needs players to depend on week by week otherwise he has to throw out his blueprint like he was forced to for the past 7 matches and rewrite a bastardised version again like last Sunday because DS wasn’t in ‘pain’ and WH weren’t fully up for a fight.
That’s not what he wants- he wants a set structure for most matches and players that can slot in and retain that pattern in substitution and long term injuries times. Sturridge doesn’t fit that bill and should only be retained if JK is confident of repeating more 4-4-2 or 4-1-2-1-2 formations sparingly when suitable- presuming he is not in ‘pain’ or ‘serious pain’. But it’s a luxury and a gamble that we may not be able to afford at the expense of alternative forwards we could attract for weekly 1st team football.
Sturridge offers many advantages for being sold now that he is grabbing headlines again. I think Klopp will do an anti-Rooney and cash in his chips while the going is good.
Retaining Sturridge doesn’t make sense economically or football wise. He’s so good- but so are so many other younger, hungrier, more versatile, and less prone to ‘injury’ others out there who can bank us a dozen plus goals and create as many more.
Our season stuttered and stopped without replacements for busy forwards and midfielders using our system that destroyed others in the Autumn- not because Sturridge couldn’t replace them with his various injuries. The system and team is bigger than a cameo genius and must take precedence.
I thank last Sunday for putting him back in the shop window, upfront and central. May it give us the moola and points to let him go gracefully and be replaced gratefully.
The only way I see letting Daniel go is if we receive a bid at the value we have for him, and that number should be steep. If it’s a PL team, I wouldn’t sell for less than £50 as he’s an England international entering his prime with a decent goal scoring record. Outside of the PL (which I can’t see him moving to) I would say anything in the £35-40 range. With his injury record I can’t see a team willing to take that risk, so the most realistic option seems to be that he stays.
With that being said, I think Klopp will realize that in 2017/2018 there needs to be more from Liverpool than a 4-3-3. You can’t run one formation across 38 games and expect to demolish the league. The 4-1-2-1-2 diamond has seemed like our best back up formation, and I would say that unlocks Sturridge’s full potential. At the end of the day if he wants to leave, I’ll respect that. But I think Liverpool offer him the best chance to show his quality, and I think he still has a lot to offer going forward.
I would love to hear a new song echoing throughout Anfield on Tuesday/Wednesday nights to our No. 15, showing him that the passion and professionalism he’s shown LFC hasn’t gone unnoticed.
I think it’s a shame that fans find themselves thinking about the money element of the game. That’s not our job surely?
A fit Daniel Sturridge is unlikely to be bettered. Remember when we bought Rickie Lambert as our ‘Plan B option’. Daniel Sturridge could be our plan B! Daniel Sturridge!
It’s a reality. The club are basing their decisions on those factors so if we (as fans) ignore it then we’re not being realistic. I’d like a Merc for the couple of times a year I make a long journey and then use my runaround for the rest of the year. Unfortunately, I can’t have £50k sitting in the garage for 360 days a year. It’s the same for the club. Money is not infinite.
It’s baffling how results induce amnesia among football fans. One good performance against west ham and we forget all those games we lost or drew because we didn’t have a goalscorer or the times that Rodgers had to play Sterling as a false nine because Sturridge was out injured. Sturridge is not there when he is needed, so he should go.
Would you go to war with a rifle that jams most of the time hoping that it will work flawlessly during battles.
Have you all been smoking the glass dick?
Get the fucking wage thief off the books.
Get someone else in who can actually play for £150000 without crying off every other week. I’m amazed at some of the comments on here.