Reports have emerged that even with heavy speculation over his future, Daniel Sturridge might remain at Liverpool after the January transfer window. The English striker will be the only option at the hands of Jurgen Klopp if another outcasted forward in the form of Danny Ings makes his way out of Anfield in January with a number of clubs interested to take him on loan for the rest of the season.
Eager to find his way back into the game, the 25-year-old needs regular minutes at the club to do so. However, with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane chosen as the leading men in the attacking lineup, it will be hard for Ings to fit into the starting XI.
Daniel Sturridge’s career has also been plagued by injuries and his frustrations have only grown after facing the majority of his time at Anfield on the sidelines. As per reports, the former Chelsea player is on the wishlist of Antonio Conte for a restrengthening of the attacking line along with other European clubs.
He has so far registered only 5 starts in the Premier League mostly coming off the bench in the dying minutes of the game. After returning to the line-up this season from his long stint at the sidelines on repetitive injury concerns, he has again failed to make the squad list in the last 3 Premier League games.
Klopp could not rely on the striker’s fitness battle to contend for the league title and has found his replacements in Firmino, Mane and Dominic Solanke. Falling behind the pecking order was imminent as Sturridge failed to replicate his old run of form for the Anfield side. Frustrated to be dropped from the England squad too, the 28-year-old is desperate to find some valuable game time and find a way to resurrect his career.
Klopp still holds Sturridge to high regards and has expressed sympathy towards the harsh times the striker has had to endure. With Ings set to leave the club, Sturridge will be crucial for Klopp in the second half of the season.
Liverpool have progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League set to face FC Porto in February and will require a second striker in order to compete against elite sides. Firmino has been converted to an out-and-out striker after moving to Liverpool from Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015. With 13 goals in 25 appearances for the club this season he is clearly the best scoring component on the side.
However, if Sturridge does manage to stay healthy and start performing in front of goal with the limited minutes provided to him, he can make a favourable case to Gareth Southgate to be selected for the England International squad ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
