The rise, drastic fall, and possible second coming of Daniel Sturridge at Liverpool

Before Harry Kane, the last Englishman to score over 20 goals in a Premier League season was Daniel Sturridge. The Liverpool forward scored 24 goals in Liverpool’s 2013/14 season, a campaign that saw a league title literally slip away from the club and the fan base.

The former Manchester City, Chelsea and Bolton striker scored 53 times alongside Luis Saurez in a mouth-watering season for the Reds.

He even found the net in eight consecutive matches for Liverpool, winning two PFA Player of the Month awards for his efforts.

In June 2014, the Birmingham-born forward signed a new contract under Brendan Rodgers and declared this was only the ‘beginning’.

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool scores during the Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on August 12, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by AFP/Getty Images)

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Speaking in 2014, he said: “There are a lot of things I’m happy with how they’ve gone so far, but there is a lot to come.

“I may have had some good games and scored some goals, but literally this is the beginning in terms of what I can show.”

The future looked bright for Liverpool with Sturridge, who continued his success with England at the 2014 World Cup, scoring an equaliser against Italy in Brazil.

In reality, his promise didn’t turn up trumps – in fact, it left a sour taste in the mouths of the Anfield faithful. Since reaching that pinnacle four-years-ago, his best return in club football in single season, Sturridge’s career has harrowingly declined.

Contributing factors, including the departure of Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling and several crippling injuries’, have shackled some of the England international’s main features.

After October 2015, Liverpool’s new manager, Jurgen Klopp, quickly found out he couldn’t trust an unreliable Sturridge and he assimilated Liverpool’s new front three.

His role as the ‘main man’ for Liverpool going forward was swiftly ditched, with Roberto Firmino much more in tune with the German’s attacking philosophy.

Relegated to the bench, Sturridge was effective when given the opportunity, but injury-plagued the 28-year-old was unavailable for the Reds 54.8% of the time, over the course of the 15/16 and 16/17 seasons.

His move to the East Midlands in January was welcomed amongst fellow Reds, hoping a loan move away from the club would re-ignite a once unstoppable ‘number nine’ with Alan Pardew’s West Brom.

That ‘fresh-start’ proved no different as Sturridge was back in the treatment room, making only six appearances and failing to find the back of the net once for the relegated ‘Baggies’.

With only a year remaining on the player’s contract going into the new campaign, his time spent in the Midlands look to have spelt the end of his time with Jurgen Klopp’s side, who had reached the Champions League Final and who had a new ‘main man’.

Linked with PSG and West Ham, Sturridge had dropped down the pecking order and looked certain to depart, but as pre-season got underway, Sturridge was delighted to be back at the place he considered ‘home’.

CHARLOTTE, NC – JULY 22: Daniel Sturridge #15 of Liverpool pushes away Mario Gotze #10 of Borussia Dortmund to control the ball during an International Champions Cup match at Bank of America Stadium on July 22, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)

This wasn’t the Sturridge who had failed to complete a pre-season over the course of the past several summers. He looked determined to earn a new contract at the club and force his way into Klopp’s plans, making a huge impact during Liverpool’s busy pre-season.

No-one has ever questioned the talent or ability of Sturridge, but his willingness to give his all for the cause has been regarded as his biggest unanswered question. Injuries have clearly gotten the better of him and fear of that re-occurrence would send any player into retreat.

But surely while sitting on the sidelines at a relegated-bound West Brom, he must have been questioning his own desire when watching his parent club advance to another Champions League Final.

His manager was willing to listen to offers of £20million this summer but a fantastic pre-season, which saw him score six goals, has clearly got the attention his manager and has the fingers of every Liverpool fan painfully-crossed tight, as they hope for a repeat of four years ago.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool celebrates after scoring in the Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham at Anfield on August 12, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Getty Images)

An opening day goal from the substitute’s bench against West Ham after 24 seconds raised the roof and only inflated the belief that the Sturridge of old could be on the prowl once more.

However, such judgement should be reserved for now. We’ve been here too many times before, and if Sturridge is to earn a new contract at the club, which looks a real possibility at this early stage, then consistency needs to be the player’s biggest friend this season.

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