DANIEL Sturridge is injured, again. He is reported to be out for an unknown period of time, again. He is likely to be absent for the remainder of a crucial period for Liverpool Football Club when they could really do with having him fit and firing, again. All of the Sturridge narratives are afoot, again.
The sense of frustration and not knowing whether to laugh or cry is all too familiar and, for the most part, justified, the underlying reasoning for such feelings however are all too muddled in their variance. There are players past and present who have ‘shook The Kop’, players who have felt a collective love from the fans and those who have been met with rejection and apathy; there are those rare individuals, like Lucas Leiva, who have endured both the rejection and embrace of Liverpool fans over an evolving period of time. There are very few, however, who have divided opinion and drew such varied perceptions from the fan base in same manner in which Sturridge has in his time at Liverpool.
All of this now has wider, more destine implications going forward. As Andy Hunter wrote in The Guardian; the question will now be asked whether Sturridge has kicked his final ball as a Liverpool player. All indications assume this will be the case. This throws up all kinds of questions, all kinds of emotions, all kinds of narrative.
A sense of warmth prevails, here.
On August 24, 2013, I travelled to Villa Park with a friend who I’d not seen for a while. Our pre-game amble to the Midlands was filled with nostalgia, catching up and very little football talk apart from when we looked at the team walking to the ground.
“He’s shite, Sturridge,” were his first words to me about the match. I had suddenly remembered how long this friend had been out of my life. I didn’t support this statement in any way shape or form and anyone really close to me who did would have endured constant belligerence and hostility for such an opinion. I kept my council until Jose Enrique rifled a low pass across the edge of the box and Sturridge majestically feigned left and right with the ball at his feet until a body of defenders and Brad Guzan lay in his wake and he lifted the ball off his foot and into the roof of the net. A goal that had Lionel Messi scored it, would be used to plug endless adverts and media campaigns to emphasise all the perceived beauty the game holds.
https://twitter.com/LFC/status/768406309360308224
I turned to my friend: “He’s not, you know, Ged.” A reply so simplistic and effortless it was on par with how Sturridge had made the goal look.
A sense of reverence prevails, here.
The 2013-14 season is arguably going to be held as the halcyon of Sturridge’s Liverpool career. It is arguably the period which embodies the most divisive of Sturridge subjects. To write this, I had a look back at his 25 goals from that season, the memories are both evangelical and, in truth, exasperatingly sad. You can look at his goals that are so ridiculous in quality you have to remember how a stadium full of people erupted with hysteria and laughter at the sheer audacity at some of them. There’s Sturridge chipping a 6ft-plus ‘keeper, who is by no means advanced from his line, from about 20-odd yards — ha. There’s Sturridge lobbing the ball high up and down into the Anfield Road net while Tim Howard starfishes helplessly like some over-zealous extra in the theatrical production of a Liverpool masterpiece, Sturridge stands deadpan reminding Evertonians just what their misguided assurance has resulted in yet again — ha, ha. There’s Sturridge keeping the ball up in the six-yard box on a rainy night in Stoke before lashing it home, there’s the arms — ha, ha, ha.
My point is simple on this; watch it back, because it feels like we all need to. Watch it back and do not dare tell me Sturridge was a product of Luis Suarez’s brilliance, don’t tell me any of them were. Sturridge is worth more to our memories than this. He was absolutely unplayable for that season, but this wasn’t a player who you felt was playing above his level which in some ways you did with Emile Heskey in 2000-1. This was a lad who was at his level and knew it. This is where he belonged with an able body. Don’t question it, just give him the ball and watch him dance while we dance with him. This is what we say when we talk about real quality footballers we’ve been lucky enough to witness in the flesh. In every sense, Sturridge was a worthy Liverpool forward, and we all knew it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT-rbSg3VLM
A sense of misfortune prevails, here.
It is September 2014; Sturridge is on England duty under the care and supervision of Roy Hodgson. Less than 48 hours after Sturridge had starred against Norway, he was asked to train again. Let’s contextualise this; he wasn’t asked to take part in a recovery session, he was asked to sprint repeatedly, much to the horror and despair of the Liverpool medical staff who advised vehemently against such action.
Sturridge was predictably injured; it can be argued it was the worst injury of his career in terms of the recurring effect it has had on his body and the timing of it. The timing is important, this was a time when Suarez had left the club and Liverpool’s dalliances in the transfer market with Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli had unfairly placed an onus and responsibility on an already fragile Sturridge to be the primary breadwinner on a regular basis. When he broke down here through no fault of his own, he was martyrized, Liverpool fans hanging on every possible shred of positive news about his return and a transference of feelings that things would be OK when he came back were stored into one person, a person whose body simply means he should never be relied on so intensely, more to be enjoyed when he is able.
The problem has been that with every injury since, the perception of the player has changed dramatically. A subconscious feeling that this is somehow his fault, that leads into some misconceived unprofessionalism, has been wholly unfair. The player did not ask to be injured, nor did he ask to be paid the amount of money he has been paid by Liverpool for a reward the club clearly felt his talents merited.
The issue is and remains that Sturridge can no longer run, and as mentioned earlier, that is one of the most desperately sad things about watching his pre-September 2014 brilliance. The sight of him twisting and turning Crystal Palace players inside out and sprinting in behind Arsenal defenders with the kind of agility that no longer exists is deeply saddening, especially when compared to seeing him in a League Cup semi-final at Anfield this season, chasing a ball that he barely stops from going out for a goal-kick that he would have probably met on the edge of the box and slotted home imperiously in times gone by.
A sense of misconception prevails, here.
There is always, unfortunately, going to be the perception that Sturridge lacks the ability to be humble, to have the working class humility that other Anfield demigods have had in the past. The reasons remain as unknown as on the day he joined. In a city that is polluted by urban myths and rumours on a daily basis, I can honestly say I’ve never heard one that backs up this notion that Sturridge is anything but a decent lad, a lad who enjoys his life and maybe has tastes that differ to others, but that shouldn’t, and I’d like to think doesn’t, come into play here.
My abiding memories of Sturridge the person are of someone who gets out of his car to do the arms with a gang of youngsters outside Anfield, who constantly stops for photos in the city centre and looks all too happy to speak to people, who laughs at opposition fans who give him the usual verbals.
This stretches to team-mates also. Try not smiling when Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho are arms entwined smiling and pointing at each with adulation as to who deserved credit for his first against Arsenal in the 5-1 home win, like some kind of comedic duo or brothers in arms enjoying being at this point in their lives together. Again, I struggle to find one quotable team-mate or manager, previous or current, who has questioned primarily the attitude of the player. There have been quotes from Steven Gerrard and Jürgen Klopp in regards to desire, but opinions on these quotes are solely based on the context in which you view them. To me, they were always tinged with the feeling Sturridge portrayed someone who didn’t trust his own body and therefore wasn’t always mentally willing or able if he felt he couldn’t give his absolute all. Is this really something to overly criticise him for? If Klopp’s example with Mamadou Sakho is to be referenced, Sturridge or anyone else who was selfish or a negative influence would have been castigated and marooned in the same way the Frenchman has been.
The thing that annoys me more than anything on this is that the same people who will question Sturridge’s perceived cockiness and attitude are the same ones who will slaughter Divock Origi for not displaying enough of the same mental resolve and self-assuredness we have seen from Sturridge in recent years. You can’t have it both ways. And ask yourself what you’d rather have going forward; the player who backs himself and feels comfortable in the jersey, or a shrinking violet who wants to be anywhere but the football pitch when responsibility is bestowed upon them? I know what I’d rather see from a player in Liverpool red.
The point is this: if this is the end of Sturridge’s Liverpool career, have a think, actually stop and think, of whatever sense of emotion prevails when he comes to mind before letting it pass. Think of every sinew of goodness, alongside the odd bad moment, before encapsulating all of your yesterdays into one lazy narrative about a player that you once laughed and danced with at his complete disregard for the pale, his tendency for the spectacular and at every bit of his self-assured complete class you ever witnessed.
Remember that he deserves, at least, this much.
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Well said, excellent piece. Daniel Sturridge is a genius and that’s why what has happened to him is sad. Wish he had never stepped anywhere near that prick Hodgson. Whatever happens I hope he succeeds wherever he goes.
Good read that mate. For myself I’d agree and say it’s a feeling of disappointment that the injuries cost him and us so much. I don’t agree with the perception some have of him. Hes a fantastic player but the injuries have clearly taken there toll. Bloody shame really.
Danny is a quality player but he has been so unfortunate with injuries. I do believe we will not see him in a red shirt again . Will miss him
Seemingly another player that Jurgen has decided doesn’t fit, irrespective of their capabilities… the highest goal scorer in the squad, but underused – between injuries!
Great player let down by his body unfortunately. We can all blame Hodgson of course but he recovered from that injury, it seems it was an accident waiting to happen. Fowler was never the same after the cruciate injury and Owen never the same after the hamstring injury at Leeds. Sturbridge was never the same after Hodgson.
That video of the 25 goals though, what a player and what a great team!
Great piece.
We cannot sell Sturridge this summer. No matter what! I don’t care how much his wages are, he cannot be replaced for whatever we get for him. Learn from our mistake selling Benteke. Better to have an expensive sub who can come on and have an impact rather than a kid who can’t.
Ings has barely kicked a ball for us but will get a great reception when (if?) he returns. I just hope to God we sign experienced quality and still keep Sturridge. Look at every interview with one of our players, when asked the most skilful / naturally talented player in the squad, they always – to a man – name Sturridge.
Sturridge has been at the club for over 4 yrs now.
For the first season and half he was fantastic but for the rest, bar a few cameos, he’s been basically non existent.
2 of our strikers are constantly out injured.
That can’t continue next season.
I am saddened at the thought he will never be the player he was back then. As you said, he just can’t run anymore – his body simply won’t let him. I think his brilliance in 2013-14 was overshadowed by Suarez’s, which is why he didn’t get the love he deserved. It has been clear since last season that he wasn’t in Klopp’s long-term plans – Klopp gave him a year to prove him wrong and he hasn’t. He seems like a nice guy and everything i’ve read about him is that he is the consummate professional and very serious about his job, which is what you want in a player obviously. It’s too bad his body has betrayed him.
Thank you Danny – one of the most thoughtful pieces of writing to grace these pages – and that’s saying something.
At last, an appraisal of Sturrdge that captures just how lucky we’ve been to have such a talented player and how unfortunate, for him more than us, not to have had the full opportunity to inscribe his name indelibly in the pantheon.
It’s hard not to conclude that racism has played a significant and ugly part in the failure to recognise how great his contribution has been, both as a player and grounded, rounded character.
No doubt, in a few years time, there will
be an Anfield Wrap show that recognises him as an under-rated legend or maybe we’ll get really lucky and he’ll return to fitness and a rightful place in the team and once again stuff all our eyes with gold.
It’s hard not to conclude that racism has played a significant and ugly part in the failure to recognise how great his contribution has been, both as a player and grounded, rounded character.
total nonsense mate
Thank you Danny Boy for the memories.
You remained my first choice striker(in my opinion) till the Europa league final last season. But due to injuries and noticeable loss of pace (and acceleration) and effort to sprint whenever you played this season, I have to move on and place my trust in Bobby and Origi.
We just have to trust in Klopp’s decision for the next main striker for next season. (If he thinks Bobby and Origi will be good enough to lead the line with the bench roles for Ings and other kids, I will believe in his judgement too).
Whatever happens in the summer, Danny will always remain as one of the most naturally gifted strikers who has worn Red shirt.
God bless
Great player if he can hopefully shake off the injuries – a prodigy in fact. I for one hope that this isn’t the end for him as a Liverpool player.
If anything, the repetitive injuries and time out has softened my stance on his perceived ‘softness’. There has to be something real there for it. Never had an issue with his attitude otherwise, from what I could tell he was on board with the team ethos, made an effort with the community, and f**k me was he amazing to watch in full flight. Him and firmino probably would have got us what Torres and Suarez were meant to (given Suarez was bought as the guy to play off the main striker, not the superhero he became – like robin taking over for batman).
A great and honest assessment of the situation.
From the time he was s scoring goals in the 2013/2014 season and I heard the negative feedback of some of the Liverpool fans at the time, I knew that it would eventually have an effect on his game.
How could it not? He is a human being. He has feelings.
I knew that I was witnessing sheer footballing genius. I knew from when he was at Chelsea. Is was just as perplexed then at the outright hatred penned his way at that time.
At joining Liverpool, he must have thought “At last. A team that actually appreciates me!” Only to hear the same old tripe being leveled at him again. Neither team Even bothered to sing his name!
Even with all that, he kept on giving his all. Sure. Some adored him, but that constant core of negative fans kept on with their vitriole. It was only a matter of time before it wore him down.
Stress affects the body negatively as well as the mind. I honestly think that is all that is wrong with him. If he can go somewhere where he is finally appreciated, I believe that we will see that happy go lucky scoring machine that strikes terror in defenses once again.
Spot on, this. In terms of ability Sturridge is one of the best forwards to ever play for LFC. It’s desperately sad and unlucky for the player, the club and us fans that his body has let him down. He seems like a decent fella and I don’t enjoy hearing the stick he gets from some quarters.
Great piece Danny, I have never got it why Origi gets more of a shout at the match than Sturridge ever has…totally mystifies me actually. The goal dance aside-and hey it makes a change from the bloody knee slide-he has oozed class and his body has seemingly given out which is bad news for our club as he’s at his peak age wise. He looked a class finisher on loan at Bolton and while I never saw much of him at City and Chelsea, I was made up we signed him for what was a reasonable fee.
But, we need to move on though Origi to me isn’t anywhere near the answer but it would be great to be proved wrong and would save us a packet. Thanks for the memories Studge.
When Sturridge stopped taking advice from the medical teams, and instead started to decide when he was fit enough, it was the beginning of the end. Was great in 13/14 and the article rightly talks about his brilliance.
Sounds as if he has decided he is not fit enough for the rest of this season – sounds like a player that’s given up…for me that’s enough justification to wave goodbye to him. He no longer puts his body on the line and instead goes into hiding.
Sadness. That’s the prevailing mood for me. I so enjoyed Studge in this first 18 months, but he’s broken now. So sad to say.
We can’t afford to keep him going forward. We need to buy a top striker who we can count on to play 38 premier league games and 10+ European games next year, a striker who’ll score 25+ goals (because his body can handle that many games). Studge isn’t that man anymore, and his wages and presence/profile will limit us getting the man who will. (And Danny Ings and Divock Origi are not of that calibre. Don’t get me wrong. Ings and Origi will make great squad players, but we need the striker who Studge was.)
So hope I’m wrong.
Great article.