Has Daniel Sturridge got his mojo back?

Daniel Sturridge has looked reinvigorated since his return from his loan spell at West Brom, and while the past can be used as a caution against over-excitement, it looks as though the England international will play an important role in Klopp’s squad for the 2018/19 season.

Many a time over the years have we heard the phrase ‘Sturridge looks back to his best’, only to be let down by a combination of injuries and his failure to nail down a starting place. While the Liverpool man is not necessarily someone you can rely on, he is definitely someone who, when firing, is a superb squad member to have.

Sturridge’s 17/18 season was arguably his weakest in a Liverpool shirt, in which he bagged three goals, only two coming in the Premier League (against Arsenal and Huddersfield). He also scored the third in a 3-0 Champions League victory against Slovenian minnows NK Maribor. In January, he was shipped out to West Brom on loan. Once again, injury struck and he only made six appearances for the Baggies, failing to score in any of them.

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NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND – Sunday, October 1, 2017: Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge sits on the ground dejected during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St. James’ Park. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

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It looked as though the striker would be exiting Anfield this summer, with the Anfield club prepared to listen to offers of at least £15m for the 28-year-old. He does only have 12 months left on his contract, so an exit seemed imminent. Klopp had been becoming increasingly fed up with his lack of availability throughout the season due to his inability to stay fit for a significant period of time.

The only problem with Daniel is the inevitable injuries. He has only made 23 league starts in the last three seasons. Since signing for Liverpool in 2013, he has sustained 14 different injuries, keeping him out of 65 Premier League games.

He has become a luxury player of some sorts in recent years. Not always available, but when he’s available and on his game, he’s a magnificent option to have for any club. Jürgen Klopp has stated his intentions for Sturridge’s involvement this season, saying ‘does he have to play 50-something games? No. But hopefully he will play a few really good ones. That is the plan.’

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Sunday, August 27, 2017: Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge celebrates scoring the fourth goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Klopp has been increasingly upbeat about the former Chelsea man, describing him as an ‘outstanding player’ and going onto say that ‘if he is fit, he will play a role in the team.

The Birmingham-born man seems hungrier than ever, shown when he said: ‘The hunger will never change. I’m taking every day as it comes with a positive mindset.’ There’s a determination in Sturridge’s words which would lead us to believe that he can play an important role in the side this season.

However, it could be seen as a case of déjà vu for Reds fans around the world. Look back to last summer, and there’s definitely a similarity in the words being spoken. Klopp described him as in ‘good physical shape’ and said that ‘it’s looking good’. Sturridge shared similar thoughts last July, stating ‘I worked individually over the summer, worked my socks off in LA on holiday. I’m sure I’m in the best shape possible’. He would go on to make only nine appearances in the Premier League for Liverpool in the 17/18 season.

It remains to be seen whether Sturridge can stay fit throughout the season, but the signs so far are all positive. He comes off the back of a strong preseason, in which he played every game, scoring against Chester, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester United, Napoli and Torino. The striker scored within 24 seconds of coming on against West Ham. That famous celebration, adored by all reds, will be seen much more often if he can keep up his recent form.

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