Following Monday night’s Anfield stalemate with The Red Devils, might the Liverpool forward now be surplus to requirements on Merseyside?
Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge with manager Juergen Klopp as he is substituted
Premier League hype is becoming somewhat of a contradiction in terms and Monday night’s meeting at Anfield once again proved so.
Perhaps hardly revelatory, but the most telling element of Monday night’s debacle was further evidence of Daniel Sturridge‘s appearance as somewhat of a square peg to Jürgen Klopp‘s round-hole setup.
So was this further evidence that the 27 year-old’s time with Liverpool be numbered?
Sturridge’s outing versus The Red Devils, was his fourth appearance this term where the forward has been afforded less than an hour game time and is yet to score this campaign.
Whilst not having fallen out publicly with his manager, there are notwithstanding signs of fracture between the two.
With the German’s penchant of playing Roberto Firmino in a false-nine role, Klopp is keen to employ the high-pressing high tempo game.
Unfortunately for Sturridge, the Brazilian in a central berth is pivotal to the former Borussia Dortmund boss’ now patented gegen-press.
Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge comes on as a substitute to replace Adam Lallana
During Monday evening’s stalemate, that became all the more apparent when Adam Lallana replaced the stuttering Sturridge on the hour mark.
Whether the England international was starved of service or not – as Jose Mourinho strangled the life out of the game – the change gave The Reds a small semblance of momentum.
Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge celebrates during happier times with Luis Suarez
Had Liverpool legs been less fatigued from the international break, a greater impact may have been witnessed.
Sturridge’s numbers thus far this term do make for pleasant viewing, in comparison to his previous and more illustrious seasons, with just the two assists, without scoring a league goal thus far.
Under Brendan Rodgers, his partnership with Luis Suárez was in full flow. Under Klopp it is less a case of S-A-S and to use the right vernacular, more Absent Without Leave.
Hull City’s Andrew Robertson fouls Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge resulting in a penalty, one of the latter’s only two assists so far this term.
The simpatico between player and manager is simply not there. Right now, Sturridge is a mere bit piece in the Liverpool jigsaw.
For the forward who has scored 56 league goals in the last five seasons – in the midst of a checkered injury malaise no less – his role is very much unknown.
The warning bells were ringing even before the meeting with Manchester United and now, one of The Red’s most prolific of marksmen – when fully fit – may be feeling a twitch or two.
So much so that if the pattern continues, Daniel Sturridge may be forced to re-evaluate his future at Liverpool.
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