The form of Daniel Sturridge is becoming a major cause for concern for our Liverpool supporters here at the Football Transfer Tavern.
The England forward has failed to score a Premier League goal in six months, with many of our punters happy for him to depart Anfield in January.
His Reds career has been sensational regarding goals to minutes ratio. However, Klopp’s lack of trust in the former Chelsea striker has seen him outcasted by the German.
With Sturridge, the club have the potential to find a goal at any moment, as he previously showed earlier on in his career on Merseyside. His devastatingly good partnership with one Luis Suarez almost guided the club to a League title in 2014 before being pipped by Manchester City.
Still, the emergence of more reliable and dynamic attacking options seem to have pushed the 27-year-old further down the pecking order.
The fall-out between Klopp and Sturridge is clear as day, and it looks expected the German will come out on top.
These are THREE reasons our Tavern landlord can see Sturridge playing elsewhere come the end of the January transfer window.
He’s too good for Liverpool’s bench
He has proven during his career that he is capable of playing at the highest heights. Still, the current form for his club sees him with a reserved position on Jurgen Klopp’s bench.
Behind only Sergio Aguero and Thierry Henry, Sturridge currently holds the third best minutes to goal ratio in Premier League history. The England forward is also the fourth quickest player to 50 Liverpool goals.
Sturridge’s career needs an injection of light, and that seems likely to be away from Anfield.
Form of current players
However, as good Sturridge may be, the current form of Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, and Sadio Mané ensures he looks on from the match-day bench.
The deadly trio continues to score, assist and adapt to Klopp’s brilliant style of play – much to the Liverpool locals satisfaction here at the Tavern.
Sturridge has been unable to fully adapt to Klopp’s fast paced and high pressing style, and despite his ability, his team-mates are more suited for Klopp.
Entering the prime of his career
After recently turning 27 years-old, Sturridge is coming into the prime years of his career. Should he continue to fight for his place and have issues with the manager, then he’s unlikely to want to spend his best years struggling when he can play elsewhere.
It really is now or never for him.
