Disastrous loan move sparked Sturridge revival
THE finish was instinctive, the kind that used to be seen most weeks. From the moment it left his right boot, the ball was never going anywhere but the corner of the net.
Here was the latest evidence to show why Jurgen Klopp has been purring about Daniel Sturridge. This strike — the second in Liverpool’s 4- 1 thumping — was his fourth of the summer and another reminder of his quality.
Nobody foresaw a situation where Sturridge would play his way back into Klopp’s thoughts, certainly not when you consider the England striker spent the end of last season exiled at West Brom.
He barely played at The Hawthorns and a parting of the ways seemed inevitable, with Liverpool prepared to take an offer of £15million.
But that loan has been the catalyst for this renaissance with Sturridge, who has 12 months left on his current terms. Time away might just be the key to extending his time at Anfield.
‘I don’t regret anything,’ said Sturridge. ‘The experience made me grow as a person. That is what it is all about. Evolving as a man, as a footballer. From the outside looking in, you can also improve.
‘When you are on the inside looking out, you sometimes don’t see what you have to do to get to the next level, how you need to change.’
So how does he assess the challenge ahead of him?
Klopp’s first- choice attacking trident is Mo Salah, Sadio Mane — who opened the scoring against United with a penalty — and Roberto Firmino, and that will leave some to wonder whether Sturridge has the hunger to fight for a chance.
In fairness to the 28-year-old, though, he spent the summer break working on his physical condition and the results are clear. He has been able to train in every session, something that has not always been the case before.
‘I have always been hungry,’ said Sturridge. ‘The hunger will never change. I’m taking every day as it comes with a positive mindset. I’m feeling great but it’s not just about me, it’s about the team. It’s about what we do as a bunch. Everyone is pushing themselves to the limit because we have got a big season ahead.
‘We feel we can do something special, so we are all pushing ourselves. I have worked hard over the summer. I’ve put it in. But there is a lot more work still to come.’
Liverpool now head for a week of intensive training in France. Alisson Becker, the £65m goalkeeper, will join up with the group, as will Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold. This has been a positive few weeks for Liverpool, whose victory was completed by Sheyi Ojo’s penalty and a spectacular overhead kick from Xherdan Shaqiri, who has made an immediate impression on Klopp.
‘He came back a few days ago and was really excited,’ said Klopp. ‘For him it was a very good moment.’