7. Daniel Sturridge – Liverpool
With 45 goals in 83 Premier League games for Liverpool Daniel Sturridge remains one of the league’s best marksmen. The last 18 months have been the hardest of his career. He has struggled to maintain fitness and win his manager Jurgen Klopp’s trust with the defensive elements of the Liverpool system.
His issues with fitness have been well documented. He is an explosive, high-speed player which often leads to more groin and hamstring injuries than the average footballer. These injuries have lingered on and led to lots of smaller niggles robbing the Premier League of the prime years of one of its most natural strikers.
Aside from his pace he is one of the few truly two-footed English players in the Premier League. That rare Englishman who could score the perfect hat-trick – left foot, right foot, header. Despite being Liverpool’s best finisher he has struggled to regain his place in the side with Klopp preferring Firmino’s work ethic up front and Mane’s pace out wide.
Testimony to his ability are the reports that PSG are interested in signing him this summer as competition for Cavani. It would be a wonderful career move for Sturridge as he looks to thrive at the end of his prime in a team ready to win. The shame would be that the Premier League would lose one of its most natural goal scorers.