Liverpool Need To Move On Without Daniel Sturridge After Latest Injury Setback

After just 12 Premier League appearances last season and just three so far in the current campaign, it’s finally time for Liverpool to give up on Daniel Sturridge and move on. That doesn’t mean sell the 26-year-old, it just means plan without him, build a team without him and make new signings without having him in mind — move on.

Sturridge was set to return to the Liverpool team on Thursday for the Europa League game against Bordeaux, but pulled out injured once again ahead of the game. It is still unknown just how long the striker will be out for, but the length of time Sturridge has already been absent for just magnifies the situation when another pull-out occurs.

Unfortunately, there’s just no way the team can rely on Sturridge during a season at this point — it’s inevitable he will let them down. It’s unfortunate because Sturridge is one of the premier striker in the EPL when fully healthy, fit and on-form. The striker’s mentality and pain threshold has been questioned in the past and Jurgen Klopp has now done so again after Thursday’s 2-1 win.

If Sturridge does struggle to play through pain, though, then what can you really do? Even if you carry him onto the pitch by his ears, you’re still not going to get the same player anyway. A psychologist, perhaps? Who knows. What is evident is that Sturridge has a long-term problem, be it physical or mental, and it shows no signs of going away.

Klopp still has Christian Benteke and Divock Origi as strikers in his squad, as long as they too can stay healthy. Also, Roberto Firmino is now showing signs of settling in at his new club since Klopp’s arrival at Anfield and can play in the position upfront. For this season, Klopp needs to concentrate on those players and decide if any of them are suitable for his style moving forward. Then in the summer, if necessary, go out and buy a new No. 1 striker for the team.

Anything Liverpool get from Sturridge now is a bonus. You take it, obviously, but you cannot rely on it, and you certainly cannot plan around it. It’s unfortunate, but Liverpool must move on from Sturridge now if the team is to progress and get themselves back among the big boys in the EPL.