Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge made a telling impact in the FA Cup against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, bagging a goal, and putting in a decent performance too. The Reds travelled to Selhurst Park to face the Eagles, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake, and memories of their last two meetings ending in disappointment.
Sturridge proved exactly why Liverpool have been missing him since his injury, with the England international scoring a fantastic equalising goal against Palace. Midfielder Jordan Henderson spotted his run off the defender’s shoulder, and Sturridge volleyed home between the goalkeepers legs.
The 25-year-old has scored and created three goals in his last five games, which has only amounted to 228 minutes of action in all competitions. Sturridge’s impact has been instant upon his return, and his influence in the side has coincided with their best form of the season according to his manager Brendan Rodgers.
“Daniel coming back has given us a big boost. You can see his qualities – his speed, his touch and he doesn’t need too many chances to score. The team is functioning at a high level,” he said.
Liverpool haven’t lost a game since the middle of December, winning 10 of the16 games played in all competitions, and are now in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Europa League second round, and still in the mix for a top-four finish in the Premier League. Their season is starting to take shape at an opportune time for the England striker, who is also a two-time FA Cup winner from his time with Chelsea.
The last time Liverpool went all the way in the competition was in 2006, and they are being regarded among the favourites to win this season’s FA Cup, with Arsenal and Manchester United the highest ranked sides left. To make it this far, the Reds had to beat AFC Wimbledon, Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace, so not the hardest run of games, but they can only beat what time is put in front of them.
And having a striker so perfectly engrained in the manager’s philosophy makes life a lot easier too. Sturridge knows just what Rodgers expects of him, and he’s trusty in front of goal too. The former Manchester City man has transformed into one of the Premier League’s best strikers since making the move to Anfield in 2013, scoring 38 goals in 57 games for the Merseyside outfit.
So could Daniel Sturridge’s return lead Liverpool to glory?
