Liverpool doing the Studge!

Daniel Sturridge

Liverpool finally lost a game in 2014. But, that was not before they put up a brave fight, showed immense character. One player who had an off day was Daniel Sturridge, who was not his usual self in front of goal, as he missed a few gilt-edged opportunities, that, had they been taken, would’ve sent the game on a completely different course. But, if anyone in the Liverpool squad was allowed to have an off day, it was Sturridge, for he has been phenomenal since returning from injury.

With Sturridge in the mix, Liverpool seem a completely different monster altogether. Since the departure of Fernando Torres, Liverpool fans have longed for this sort of a lethal finisher. Someone who they can be sure will put away the one-on-ones, and make the opposition pay for their mistakes.

From the wilderness at Chelsea, to becoming possibly England’s finest striker at the moment, Daniel Sturridge’s first year at Liverpool has been nothing short of phenomenal. Right now, Sturridge is so calm, so confident, so ruthless, that he sometimes makes goal scoring seem ridiculously easy.

18 Premier League Appearances this season. 31 shots on target. 16 Goals. Makes for a conversion rate of 53%. Quite simply, this man doesn’t need too many chances to put the opposition to the sword. Sturridge’s partnership with Luis Suarez has made for absolutely breath-taking viewing. Sturridge has been so lethal, that he has forced Brendan Rodgers to push Suarez out wide, as the Reds push on in their quest for that elusive Premier League crown.

The SAS on song are quite simply irresistible, and incredibly difficult to defend. Sturridge’s pace and movement is beautifully complimented by Suarez’s trickery and vision, and together the two have terrorized defenses across the Premier League.

For Liverpool fans, from the ignominy of four seasons without Champions League football, to watching their team struggle to score goals, the last 4 years have been tumultuous. But right now, Anfield is once again becoming the fortress it once was, and Liverpool are playing magical football.

However, what is bound to give them the most satisfaction is watching two of their own fighting it out for the Golden Boot. Given the number of games Sturridge has missed this season, it is absolutely phenomenal that he has managed to stay up in the reckoning for the prize.

For far too long before this season, Liverpool played beautiful football, but the means never got the end that they deserved. Now, with Sturridge thrown into the mix, and Suarez on a different level, the strikers are sealing more points than what had been the case. Man City’s goal scoring has been much touted this season, but the fact that Liverpool lie just two goals behind them is testament to the great work that Sturridge has been a part of.

Along with Suarez, Sturridge has scored 39 of Liverpool’s 66 goals this season, an astounding 60%. No surprise then, that the Reds are finally back in the running for that elusive crown. The pressing that Liverpool have shown at Anfield this season has been instigated by the desire of Suarez and Sturridge to win the ball high up the field, and fashion a goal scoring opportunity.

All in all, come May, Liverpool fans might not celebrate Premier League glory, but they will certainly look at the team finishing within the top 4, and one of their two star men finishing up with the Golden Boot. Such has been the impact of Daniel Sturridge at Liverpool, that one year has taken him from the fringes of the first team to a prospective Golden Boot.