Liverpool star forward Daniel Sturridge was back in the first team this week but is upset yet again by Jurgen Klopp’s decisions.
Daniel Sturridge made his first appearances of the new Liverpool campaign this week with a poor showing at Burnley and then a dynamic substitute appearance against Burton Albion in the League Cup.
However, despite two straight games and two straight opportunities to show his worth, the 26-year-old forward is once again complaining to the press.The Telegraph quoted the forward in his most recent comments over his positional change to the right side of the Reds attack:
"“I have to do a job for the team.That’s not saying I am happy to do it.That’s saying I have got to do a job for the team.It’s a team game.If I am put in that position, I have to play there.”"
After two years of injury issues followed by injury issue, Sturridge ought to be happy he has kept a place with the first under Klopp whom is looking to really put his stamp on the club this season.
Additionally he should be keeping this type of conversation private to the internal discussion of the club, not broadcasting it and showing disunity.
However, this is not the first time changes in tactics or comments have upset the seemingly sensitive forward.
Last year during his recovery period, his them new manager Klopp spoke to the press about his charge needing to learn the difference in levels of pain:
"“If it wasn’t for Daniel’s quality no one would think about him being back on the pitch after such a short time.What you need in times like this is training.Your body has to learn new intensity of training and you have to learn what is serious pain or what is only pain…”"
Perhaps Sturridge’s frustration is born out of something much deeper than many are thinking.
Last season Klopp used comments to stir his forward up a bit and it appeared to work as Sturridge battled back to manage to contribute 13 goals in all competitions from 25 appearances.
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This season perhaps Klopp is working on the other part of Sturridge’s mental capacity, that to see that at Liverpool under Klopp it is about what the team needs out of players for it to be successful in the match they are playing.
With Saido Mane out injured for the Burnley game, once again the Reds were devoid of pace. Klopp looked to Sturridge to play a role of adding pace to the right side of the attack, with full intention of wanting the England international to work his way into scoring positions.
However, Sturridge never tried to play that one time role because he seemed to take it as a demotion rather than a necessity for the club’s tactical identity that was shown in the opening match against Arsenal.
Next: Sturridge needs to shut his mouth
Rather than playing the wide role and then working space and into the box he was constantly dropping way to deep centrally and destroying the ability of the Reds to have an outlet pass to the right side of their attack.
With Mane back in the picture, Sturridge is not likely to be starting on the right side of the Reds attack, but with Klopp being all about having players that can play multiple positions, this should be a wake up call for Sturridge to grow as a footballer.