Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has delivered the news Reds fans have been waiting to hear for what must seem like an eternity.
Star striker Daniel Sturridge, who scored 21 Premier League goals in the 2013-14 season, has not played for the Reds since April, but he could return in this weekend’s home game against Norwich City.
Sturridge, who had hip surgery this summer, has been in first team training this month.
And Rodgers has hinted that he could be back on the Anfield pitch very shortly.
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Liverpool Echo journalist Neil Jones was at Friday’s press conference with Rodgers and he used Twitter to report the event.
Sturridge to also be assessed ahead of Norwich game. #LFC
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesecho) September 18, 2015
Rodgers on Sturridge: “On his game he’s one of the best there is. He can stretch teams, and has wonderful variety in his finishing.”
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesecho) September 18, 2015
Sturridge is not guaranteed to feature against the Canaries and he is unlikely to start, partly due to the form of Christian Benteke, who scored with a stunning bicycle kick in last Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Manchester United.
Benteke has an impressive scoring record in his previous meetings with Norwich. He hit the net four times in five appearances for Aston Villa against the Norfolk side.
Liverpool have largely used a 4-3-3 formation in the Premier League so far this season, with Benteke leading the line, supported by Philippe Coutinho, and Roberto Firmino or Adam Lallana.
It remains to be seen if Sturridge will slot into that 4-3-3 system in a wide role, or whether Rodgers may tweak his tactics to accommodate one of England’s finest finishers in a more central position once his returns to full fitness.
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