Why Daniel Sturridge still belongs at Liverpool

With the reemergence of Daniel Sturridge this summer, what does his future look like and could he potentially play a key role in a Liverpool title push?

Jurgen Klopp, while certainly a player’s manager hasn’t always shown patience with certain players. And perhaps no player has been shown less patience than Daniel Sturridge, whose playing time has been severely reduced over the past few seasons by a series of nagging injuries.

The word on Sturridge has been the same since his breakout 2013-14 campaign: “When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best strikers in the Premier League.” Staying healthy, however, has been a serious challenge.

When Klopp took over at Anfield in the fall of 2015, he inherited an average squad from Brendan Rodgers. Sturridge was arguably one of the best two players on the team at that time, along with Philippe Coutinho.

A lot has changed since then. Klopp has added countless key acquisitions to the squad. For the first time since the days of Rafa Benitez, people other than Liverpool’s own supporters are talking about them as legitimate title challengers.

His nightmare of a 2017-18 season seemed like it was the final strike for Sturridge in a Liverpool shirt. After an inconsistent first half of the campaign, he was promptly loaned out to West Brom, where he started only twice after yet more injuries.

Unsurprisingly, Sturridge entered this Liverpool preseason as one of the players most likely to be sold during the summer window. However, his incredible play over the past month has forced a rethink.

Sturridge is finally healthy again. He has fully recovered from all of the bumps and bruises of the past few seasons. With his fitness at its highest level since 2014, the Englishman looks like he may have a key role to play this season.

It’s only preseason, of course, but he hasn’t looked this good in any other preseason under Klopp. His partnership with newcomer Naby Keita has looked particularly impressive. Sturridge’s positioning, first touch and finishing are still on par with the best center-forwards in the league.

Roberto Firmino has cemented himself as the first choice due to his incredible versatility up front in Klopp’s 4-3-3, but with Dominic Solanke and Divock Origi having done little to instill confidence as backups, and Firmino having returned late to preseason due to World Cup commitments, there will be opportunities for Sturridge.

What was once a mere dream has now become a reality: Sturridge has regained the trust of his manager. This should benefit Liverpool in multiple ways.

With the club apparently on the fence about whether to spend more money on a reserve center-forward, Sturridge’s form has settled the issue. This allows a player who knows Klopp’s system to remain at the club.

Furthermore, it allows Klopp to rest Firmino for crucial matches, while having little drop off in terms of player quality. It also allows Liverpool to compete on all fronts (domestic and continental).

A healthy Sturridge, albeit in a different role than he has occupied in the past, makes Liverpool a threat to win every competition they will compete in this season. At 28, he may still have a few prime years left in him.

Sturridge has the opportunity to be a part of something truly special. He can still play a massive role in what looks to be the final phase of Klopp’s blueprint to return Liverpool to the top of English soccer.

Having overcome so many setbacks through the years, there could not be a fine final chapter written for a player who has persevered and deserves to be on the stage should Liverpool lift the league trophy next May.