DEMAND outweighs supply when we consider a certain kind of striker. The type sought after by all but who usually gravitates towards Europe’s elite.
The sort of forward whose presence will instantly elevate others around him, and who has the ability to illuminate any game no matter the occasion.
He will possess all of the grace in the world, exuding superiority and emanating a particular kind of brooding arrogance that the best do.
He’s cold. Clinical. He’s always available and will find space through instinct and exploit it, without a thought.
He’ll score goals. And goals. And goals. Goals against Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. Crucial goals in cup games and on European nights. Last-minute equalisers against bitter rivals just as they think they have it won.
This kind of player is not let go lightly. You hold on to him at all costs. His influence is immeasurable because within your side he is the catalyst to all of your optimism and deluded expectations.
His goals are the reason everyone is having a pint, choosing post-match boozers just for their jukeboxes and spilling out of karaoke three hours later than planned. A player of this ilk spoils you on and off the pitch.
And then there are adjectives that you would not normally associate with a player of this calibre at your club: undervalued. Unappreciated. Unloved.
So let’s talk about Daniel Sturridge.
There’s a curious lack of affection for a striker who possesses all of the qualities mentioned above. There always has been and it remains despite 40 league goals in 64 appearances since his debut in 2013.
It feels like he’ll never properly be one of us — because we won’t allow him to be.
Clap, clap – clap, clap, clap – clap, clap, clap clap: Sturridge!
Was that difficult, lads?
The thought of what a little bit of love could do for the player is frightening when you consider without it he’s been able to perform to the level he has since his arrival at Anfield. Can we have more of the same on Thursday please?
For some though, it seems scoring against Stoke or setting up our only goal against second-placed Spurs just isn’t enough because the player doesn’t look happy when substituted. The absolute bastard.
Remember the delight on Robbie Fowler’s face when he was subbed? Can you recall the beaming smile of Luis Suarez when the hook came? No, me neither.
We’re told his form has dipped on returning to the first team, yet he has scored five in nine appearances and provided one assist. It’s testament to his ability that we expect more of him.
A few weeks back on a poll on This is Anfield, the majority voted advocating the sale of Sturridge for £45million. Yet I bet they mourned the departure of a sulking Fernando Torres when he was sold for similar money in 2011.
A little bit of perspective is in order.
When did fans of eighth placed Liverpool Football Club suddenly find themselves in a position to let go of their best player because they have a problem with his personality?
I read this on a forum on Sunday:
“He’s hard to love. The reason is his wretched body language which fluctuates between astonishing self love and tormented self pity. I hate the extravagant ‘look at me I’m praying’ every bit as much as I do the ‘look at me, I’ve been unjustifiably subbed again.
“Both speak to a fragile ego of course but both grate against the collectivist ethic that we pride ourselves on at Anfield. In fact the ‘self’ bit is so strong in Sturridge that you wonder how much he really enjoys playing for Liverpool.”
Most strikers have an ego, an arrogance that manifests in different ways but that is essential to the role they play within their team.
It’s time this unwarranted misconception and unhealthy fixation with his body language or perceived demeanour is swept aside because he’s a sumptuous footballer, one now finding fitness, scoring goals and contributing in all of the ways you wished he would when he was missing from action.
He’s everything you would hope for in a new signing this summer yet he’s already on the book, wearing red and scoring goals, so let’s show our appreciation because you would fume for everymore if he tried to engineer a move away.
Daniel’s display at the weekend was a timely reminder of his unquestionable qualities and the Kop have now proven they have it in them to react to that by chanting his name.
A certain amount of revisionism is required. It’s time for us to re-evaluate our relationship with the striker we signed for £12m three years ago.
His talent merits adulation, at the very least respect. For those who choose not to offer him that…I fear it might take losing the forward for them to appreciate just how good he’s been in red. Eighty four (84) appearances. Forty eight (48) goals.
When Sturridge scores, The Reds usually win. And when The Reds win…
Agreed 90%. have you ever wondered why Ings has played 5 matches and scored 2 goals yet his name has been sung by anfield faithfuls ? – work rate and being a team player.do you see him celebrating when a team mate scores and even if he does, it’s passionless. probably that’s what we want from him and probably that’s what he can’t give. will never sell him under any condition though.
Best piece of writing by the staff. Well, today anyway. Klopp has no intention of selling Daniel. At least I hope not. Might start to doubt the man. At the least might think he is only a man and not something more of a football Demi-God.
Agree with all the points made. Get behind him lads!
A false reputation he has been unable to shake, I can’t remember another player haven’t to suffer this type of thing for so long. Perceived as greedy, selfish, sulk etc by Chelsea fans, and probably red top newspapers the mud has well and truly stuck!
A young kid at Chelsea, trying to make a name for himself whilst playing second fiddle to Drogba, in a system with one central striker, hence him having to try and take his chance out wide. Strikers are happiest when scoring, that’s going to happen less playing out wide so of course he’s not going to look happy, or try and do too much when he gets the ball (which he still does at times).
But that was all a long time ago, and since coming to Liverpool we have seen little to none of that, yet people still want to see him that way. We like to talk about all the money LFC have wasted in recent times on players simply not good enough, yet here’s a lad bought for circa £12million who has developed and is genuine class he just be reveered!
Again with injuries, harangued more than any other player I’ve seen, our good friend the Hodge tells us unless Daniel is injury free and playing regularly he won’t be picked for England. Yet all our old favourites Rooney and Wilshere don’t even have to kick a ball and they are the first names on the team sheet!
For me LFC have the best current British striker, a genuine, probable, world class talent, I believe Klopp recognises this and I hope we’ll still be seeing him in a red shirt for a few years yet, and maybe soon he will be universally supported.
100% nailed it – He is with zero doubt a top class player. “How long would you want to sign for, Daniel?”
Well written and bang on the money.
He could bang in 25 next season and propel us to a title and some will still moan about his body language. Not for me that whinging malarkey.
His dance is the only body language I’m interested in.
Yes. I’ve always known what we’ve got: he’s our best player by a country mile. What’s more, he could get better……don’t be surprised if he becomes a shadow striker as he gets older. I’ve a feeling he’s feeling his way towards that role already. He could become Kenny to Divvy’s Rushie.
I would like both Sturridge and Origi starting at once
Excellent article.
It’s a bit of a cliché but when he’s fit, he’s unstoppable – superb finisher, great with the ball at his feet, good header, always trying to find space, setting up for others, and so on.
If Origi can continue his form, those two playing together will be a major force.
I think Klopp should and will build the team around Coutinho, Firmino and those two. Goals aplenty.
It’s not conceding that we should worry about.
I suppose that forum poster thinks we dodged a bullet with Ronaldo. Dear me. Sturridge has given me so much pleasure as an LFC fan he can burst into tears every time he is subbed for all I care.
Theres a great new interview with Studge on LFCTV. Seems in good form.
Brilliant and timely article.
As @baggio said, he has chalked up so much credit in my book, he can pose or pout all he wants.
CLAP, CLAP, CLAP … CLAP, STURRIDGE!
He is a player right out of the top drawer and of that there can be no question. He doesn’t have the best language but, as we hear very regularly, who wants a striker who enjoys being subbed?
I wrote an article on TIA a few months back stating that we really should not sell him. I find it hard to envisage us finding a player with that sort of goals return for £12m. Not to say we couldn’t, but if we already have one then I don’t see the need to take that risk.
He was a joy to watch on Sunday. That backheel to Moreno was breathtakingly arrogant and exactly what we want to see from him.
Critical observers do not fret about his sulky expression alone, they see it in tandem with his lack of apparent commitment on the pitch – he unwillingness to muck in, contrasting with the selfless approach of Divock Origi. Obviously there are some differences – the former is still probably lying awake at night wondering if his body is finally “fixed” while the latter is an eager pup out to stay in the managers thoughts (and doing a good job of it btw). As Klopp seems wedded to playing one striker the competition to be first choice is intense and that’s what Sturridge needs to be aware of. I didn’t see the Stoke game but apparently he looked more ‘on it’ than previously which is good to know – I’d sooner Klopp was happy to keep him than happy to sell him.
Critical observers eh? Will this critical observer sees his sulky expression in tandem with the fact that you win games by putting the ball in the net, something that a fit Sturridge does more regularly than any Liverpool player in history. That is his core job and he seems pretty committed to it to me.
Daniel Sturridge’s ‘body language’ is not the problem. The people who think that Daniel Sturridge’s ‘body language’ is the problem are the problem.
Fuck em. That forum comment in the piece is a disgrace. Talking about ‘collectivist ethic’ whilst sticking the knife into your best player? A fella who regularly sticks the ball in the net from any angle and distance for LFC. What a whopper.
I might be wrong but I think he’s still the only LFC player I’ve ever directly tweeted, and that was some months ago to say how glad I was that he was back to full fitness. I’ve never understood this mewling attitude from the hurlers on the ditch. Didn’t Suarez once try to force through a move to Arsenal? We all forgot about that pretty quickly when he started smashing them in a dime a dozen. Hopefully Dan does likewise and we’re all toasting our success this time next year.
Lovely article Craig.
Like you i think Sturridge is an incredible player and the love he’s finally getting is going to spur him on even more. It’s taken a while but he’s finally gotten some appreciation from the stands.
Up The Reds
I think he is as much a victim of circumstance as anything else.
12/13 he came in as a Chelsea and city reject for a dubiously low fee. A few questions were asked. No love there and, I guess, rightly so this early into his time here.
13/14 Suarez. Simple as that. Dan was always playing second fiddle in that battle
14/15 The main man. Who was injured. And we were a bit shit.
Get him fit, playing and scoring – he’ll feel the love soon enough.
The only thing that Liverpool fans question about sturidge is his willingness to play every game it’s his commitment does he want to play every game then stop saying your injured do what your paid to an the love will come
I agree.
Good piece.!
I find it crazy though that some fans associated with Liverpool are giving him this shit and writing a collom as if they’ have never played the game!
All Liverpool fans I know stick by and are fiercely supportive of a player such as Daniel is. A player who is riddled with flair,a player who works hard for the team and always wants to better himself. I love the kid…as you can probably tell.
I hope think he will be the difference tonight!!
Get behind him guys and behind all klopps decisions (team wise) as in God we trust!!
Lfc forever !
In 13/14 Daniel was our most consistent player. Cannot deny the class of suarez but whilst he was of suspended for something or other Studge was quietly knocking in goals. They are different players but for me Studge was never in a Suarez shadow, just two parts of a attacking behemoth. The media hype surrounding suarez stole the lime light and all the pundits joined in. Sure he was class but they were missing the opportunity to build Studge up in a way that was fitting for a player of his caliber. The English media getting it wrong again. Since then it’s been tough for him with fitness and that but the criticism of such a talented player is fucking stupid. From the media, who cares? But from club supporters it’s frankly weird. Many players have periods of injury in their career but few return as threatening as Studge does so quickly. He is clearly extremely naturally talented footballer. I don’t get the lazy jibes but even if it were true he’s a striker and goal provider and thats what he does. Let the defence and midfield do the donkey work, he’ll be there to provide some class at the end of it. And as for arrogance, well good. I’m glad if he is, I’d be arrogant if I was him.