Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge: It felt like a dream until my penalty miss

Daniel Sturridge has admitted that it felt like he was dreaming until his second-half penalty miss in Liverpool’s 4-0 victory over Everton.

The Toffees were unable to contain the 24-year-old striker as he scored in his fifth successive game in the 31st minute at Anfield, before taking his season tally to 15 goals with an outrageous lob over Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.

It was like a dream, but then I ended up shooting over the bar

Daniel Sturridge

However, he wasted the opportunity to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot after the England international blazed his effort over the crossbar – and Sturridge felt “deflated” following his spot-kick miss.

“It was like a dream, but then I ended up shooting over the bar and I was deflated. But I’m blessed to even score two goals and to be out there with the boys,” Sturridge said.

“You realise it was about the team performance and the 4-0 win. I’ve helped the boys get the victory. At the end of the day, it’s a penalty. Sometimes you score, sometimes you miss and that’s the same in games as well.”

Sturridge was keen to deflect praise onto his Liverpool team-mates following a crucial win over a top-four and derby rival.

“It was a very pleasing result. It was for the fans. We worked hard as a team and it was a great result in the end,” Sturridge added.

“It was about the boys; it was about the team and the victory that we had. It wasn’t about me and the goals I scored; it was about doing a job for the boys.

“The message was to go out there and work hard as a team and do a job for the fans. That’s what it’s all about. The manager emphasises that and he’s very keen for us to be like that and we were on the night.”