As Liverpool fans watched their main man score a brace against Southampton in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals last week, it seemed as if things were only looking up for Daniel Sturridge.
A week later and football fans are yet again exposed to the news that Sturridge’s injury woes look set to continue until the new year.
In any sport there are individuals that are forever sat on the sidelines due to the unforgiving injuries, but it is hard to think of anyone in recent years that has a record like Sturridge.
The moment people think he is back is the moment everyone is put back into reality. It is hard to be positive about this man and his future. He can never put together a run of games without breaking down and that should give him every reason to be concerned about his future at Liverpool Football Club.
With the wage books no secret to the public, we see Sturridge equal with James Milner as the top earner (£150,000). Talking purely in a financial sense, he is costing Liverpool big sitting on the sidelines more times than not.
Before going any further, it would be a silly move to sell Sturridge due to his unbelievable talent and the potential lack of a transfer fee Liverpool would receive. But something needs to be done and many people within the club are becoming inpatient.
It is now getting to the point where he has to be put down to a play and pay contract. How that would work only the club could decide, but it is getting past the point of ridiculous. The club simply cannot keep blowing money on a player it cannot rely on to play and win games.
With changing his contract agreement being the first move the club should take, the next should be his training regime and the games he plays. It is clear that even a change to training will not guarantee anything, but it is worth a try.
He does not look the type of player that needs a vast amount of time on the training track to come back and hit the ground running. He tends to score a goal or even more when he returns from whatever injury he picks up. His natural ability just seems to take over and that is what makes him one of the best forwards in the Premier League.
Looking at games when Sturridge is due to returns in the new year, it seems as if one game a week needs to be looked at. What that means is he is included in a squad for one game and one game only. Jurgen Klopp needs to assign him for one match a week and not involve him in anymore games in any other way.
What has become clear in the last 12 months is Liverpool cannot build a team around Sturridge. A fully fit and injury-free Sturridge? Of course Liverpool could build a team around him. He is the complete forward. Quick, strong and his finishing ability is different gravy. There is only one man most consider better than Liverpool’s number 15 and that is Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero.
Unfortunately for the Merseysiders an injury-free and fully fit Sturridge is utopia. Something that has disappointed on social media concerns some Reds fans who have decided to take their anger out on him. Yes, it is obviously frustrating if you are a Liverpool fan, but let’s be honest here, it is not his fault. The man clearly has a passion for Liverpool and wants to be out on the pitch scoring goals to win football matches for the fans.
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Klopp did state after watching Sturridge score a brace against the Saints a week ago that he “now knows what everybody is talking about” regarding his magnificent ability. It is a real shame that Sturridge has not been fit for a long period under Klopp because he looks the type of the player that would fit in perfectly into the manager’s system.
The fact he is so talented is leaving many fans in two frames of mind. The biggest question that is being asked about Sturridge is this: what happens with him now?
With the England international sidelined until the new year, you do get the feeling that 2016 will be make or break for him. The club will eventually lose patience in him if he cannot get himself out on the pitch consistently.
In the meantime, Sturridge will be in his familiar spot on the sidelines, but when he returns the clock will be ticking for the ever so talented Englishmen. He has no option but to hit the ground running.
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