Jurgen Klopp raves about forgotten Liverpool FC star: He’s outstanding
The Liverpool FC manager has been impressed with Daniel Sturridge's pre-season form
Jurgen Klopp has hailed Daniel Sturridge as an “outstanding player” following the Liverpool FC striker’s impressive pre-season form.
The England international was omitted from Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad to provide the 28-year-old with the opportunity to get a full pre-season under his belt.
Sturridge spent the second half of the 2017-18 season on loan at relegated West Bromwich Albion but struggled with fitness and form at the Baggies.
Liverpool FC’s front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino made it difficult for Sturridge to make a claim for a starting spot.
But the former Chelsea FC star has been one of their most impressive performers over the past few weeks to seize his lifeline at Liverpool FC.
Sturridge has outshone Dominic Solanke and Danny Ings in pre-season so far ahead of the return of World Cup stars Firmino, Mane and Salah.
Speaking at his media conference following Liverpool FC’s 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, Klopp said:
“He is in very good shape, that’s true.
“It was a very intense pre-season so far and he was part of pretty much all the sessions.
“He looks really good. Who doubts Daniel Sturridge when he is fit? I don’t. He is an outstanding player, hopefully he can stay fit and then the future is bright. He is still young enough, it’s not that he is 30-something.
“He is experienced as well and has this kind of natural arrogance that you need on the pitch, so you don’t always start anew if something doesn’t work, that you are out of the game for 10 minutes or, even worse, not involved for the full game. He stays in the game and it’s good for us to have him around.
“You saw it today. The second half without Daniel would have looked completely different. It was that good because we had Daniel in the right spaces and he could lead the group with the ball, if you want. That was really good. I’m fine with him, 100 per cent.”
Sturridge moved to Liverpool FC in a £12m deal from Chelsea FC in the 2013 January transfer window under Brendan Rodgers.
The Reds striker scored 21 times in 28 games in his first Premier League season at Liverpool FC but has struggled with injuries.
