Daniel Sturridge was in scintillating form against Everton on Tuesday. That being said, some of his old demons came back as he went in search of a third goal in a game that was important to both the red and the blue sides of Liverpool.
The England international came into the game as one half of the league’s most feared duo and he did not disappoint. He started off the game well, but after Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard scored the first goal the match quickly became the Sturridge show. He first latched onto a ball played on by the rejuvenated Phillipe Coutinho, and then as always with him nowadays he finished with ease and di a celebratory dance for the Anfield faithful. Then, just as Liverpool fans were catching their breath from the relentless chanting, Kolo Toure played a ball over the top and we witnessed magic. Sturridge latched onto to it and forced Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard to come off of his line. Nonchalantly, Sturridge chipped Howard from outside the box, cueing a ballroom encore.
That goal took Sturridge’s tally to an impressive 16 goals in 18 outings. But what came as a surprise to the Kop is what followed from the striker in the second half. The thought of a hat trick, in a Merseyside derby of all games, affected Sturridge and took over him and his play. As the other half of SAS put Liverpool up 4-0, the chance for a third goal for the striker arose via a penalty won by the impressive as ever Raheem Sterling. Steven Gerrard, acting like a captain, let Sturridge take it. Time to put his name into derby history? Apparently not.
England’s most prolific forward displayed once again what will be England’s downfall come the World Cup, as he blazed the penalty over. The anger etched over his fac,e and he decided at that moment that he would move heaven and earth to get that third goal. This almost immediately proved to be the wrong decision. Minutes later he had a chance to increase the lead by squaring a waiting Luis Suarez, but instead Sturridge decided to go after a impossible shot. This was the final nail in the coffin, as he was taken out the game and even had time for a touchline spat with manager Brendan Rodgers (which he later apologised for). From those two halves you would think it was a different match.
The only thing that would worry Liverpool fans is how Sturridge’s selfishness may affect the previously prolific SAS combination. I have turned a positive into a negative. It obviously means that if Suarez and Sturridge can get angry at each as they did on Tuesday night that they have a great relationship and are used to being in each other’s company. You would not get as angry at someone you did not really know, right?
In all seriousness though I would come to the conclusion that SAS had a bad game due to Sturridge’s eagerness to complete his hat trick. Statistics don’t lie. 39 goals between the two this season is very impressive, and it proves why they are most likely the best partnership in the world.
Daniel Sturridge will continue to develop under Brendan Rodgers and learn to put the team before himself. As long as he listens and learns he can achieve great things with Liverpool FC. It may only be a matter of time before we will cue the dance again.
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