8 Amazing Daniel Sturridge Facts Fans Should Be Talking About
Liverpool have certainly missed Daniel Sturridge in the seven games he's been absent since picking up an injury while on international duty with England again last month.
The 25-year-old had started the season with a goal against Southampton on the opening day, just as he had the previous season when three goals in three opening games gave Brendan Rodgers' side a perfect start to the campaign.
Perhaps overshadowed by the exploits of Luis Suarez last season, it's easy to forget that Sturridge finished the campaign as the Premier League's second top goalscorer.
Now, with Suarez gone, Liverpool fans are realising the importance of Sturridge. Until now he's perhaps been underrated at Anfield.
Here are eight facts about the Liverpool No. 15.
Goalscoring Record
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Sturridge has scored 36 goals in 52 games for Liverpool since his arrival from Chelsea in January 2013.
Four of those have come against Manchester United, who he scored his first Liverpool Premier League goal against as a sub in a 2-1 defeat.
Thirty-two of those 36 goals have been in the League, from 46 games. Thirty-two Premier League goals in 46 matches is an incredible record.
36 Goals in 50 Matches: Second Best for a LFC Player EVER
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Sturridge's 36 goals in his first 50 games, in all competitions, was the second most of any Reds player—and the most for any Liverpool player in the top flight.
Quite incredible when you think of the former goalscoring forwards Liverpool have had.
"Sturridge's 36th goal in 50 matches. Only outdone by George Allan's 41 in 1895-97 and half of those were in 2nd div. Torres 3rd with 34.
— LFChistory.net (@LFChistory) August 17, 2014"
England Record
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Sturridge's England record is also admirable, with five goals in 16 appearances for his country.
Three of those goals have been in his seven competitive appearances.
Overall, Sturridge has started 11 games for England. He's been named in 28 squads since his debut for England in November 2011.
Prior to that he represented England at under-21, under-20, under-19, under-18, under-17, under-16—and for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics.
(via England Football Online)
Fans' Favourite
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After just six months at the club, Sturridge was already the third most popular name on the back of Liverpool's home shirt, as per liverpoolfc.com.
The England forward has now just passed the one million follower mark on his Instagram account and has 1.23 million followers on Twitter.
8 in a Row
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Liverpool's game at Fulham back in February, a dramatic 3-2 win, saw Sturridge score for the eighth consecutive game, equalling the club record for consecutive goals in games in all competitions.
John Aldridge did score for 10 games in a row, but they were all league games.
Better Than Fowler, Torres and Hunt
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Sturridge's goalscoring record in his opening 25 games for the club, 19 scored, was better than Fernando Torres (17), Robbie Fowler and Rodger Hunt (16).
"After 25 games for Liverpool, Fernando Torres had scored 17, while Robbie Fowler and Roger Hunt were on 16, compared to @D_Sturridge's 19.
— LFChistory.net (@LFChistory) October 9, 2013"
Why He Dances
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Ever wondered why he does "The Studge" (the name he has given his dance after he scores)? Here's the man himself explaining, via The Independent:
"It was an inside joke initially with my cousins and my brother and they said do it as a celebration for a bit of banter.
Then I did it and it kind of carried on from there because we thought it was so funny.
It got to the point where if I didn't do it, the fans were starting to say why didn't you do the dance as a celebration?
Since then it's kind of been one of those things. It's just a little bit of fun and I don't take myself too seriously so I just have a bit of fun with it.
"
One Penalty Scored, One Hat-Trick
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Sturridge has scored one penalty for Liverpool, in a 5-0 thrashing of Swansea in his first season.
He did, however, miss a penalty in the Merseyside derby earlier in 2014, which was the chance to secure his hat-trick on the night.
He has one hat-trick to his name, at Fulham in May 2013.
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