Daniel Sturridge Return from Injury Won't Solve All Liverpool's Problems

The international break has already yielded one good piece of news for Liverpool: star striker Daniel Sturridge is finally back in training.

Sturridge was injured on international duty with England in August, sparking another club-versus-country fitness-regime row, but returned to action with Liverpool on Wednesday, per the BBC. He will be looking to gain enough sharpness and fitness to take part against Crystal Palace following the two-week break from domestic action.

"

P.s training was class. Happy to be back. Thank you Jesus.

— Daniel Sturridge (@D_Sturridge) November 12, 2014"

It's great news for the Reds and should aid their challenge to get back toward the top four—but even Sturridge, last season's second-top scorer in the Premier League, won't solve all the issues the team has right now. It will take more work from manager Brendan Rodgers, and a much greater contribution from so-called big names in the first team, to set the Reds back on the right track.

Toothless Attack

The Reds have managed only 14 goals in 11 games this season, a far cry from the devastating attack of 13-14 which saw them net a full century. Indeed, things have been getting worse on that front: just one goal in the last three league games and three in the last six in all competitions.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Mario Balotelli had been firing in shots from all angles without success, but even that has dried up of late. The likes of Fabio Borini, Raheem Sterling, Rickie Lambert and just about everyone else on the side are struggling to finish chances, too.

The hope will be for Sturridge to come in and add better quality of movement and finishing inside the penalty box, but with only one goal himself in his three games prior to his injury, it was already evident that shooting alone wasn't Liverpool's only issue: creating is also a problem.

Service and System

Sterling has seen a dip in form. Set pieces haven't been anywhere near as useful or regular as they were last term. Philippe Coutinho has been out of the side. And, of course, Luis Suarez is no more. Add to that list of problems the lack of output from new signings Lazar Markovic and Adam Lallana so far, and the Reds have just had endless issues in transitioning between midfield build-up and final-third passes to create quality scoring chances.

The team shape has altered, from a diamond to a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 and back to a 4-3-3, leaving players unable to nail down a particular role of late.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

It shouldn't be an issue, but when things aren't going the team's way, perhaps it doesn't help. That said, with none of the regular starters excelling, why should they imagine they should start in a preferred role week after week?

Whatever the line-up behind and around Sturridge in attack, Liverpool have to figure out a way to move the ball faster into the final third, with more players supporting the striker. And then Sturridge has to show the fans and his team-mates what they've been missing.

Mentality

Systems, tactics, injuries; put all that to one side and you still have players who were chasing the title last season and have to respond to poor form to drag the team back to winning ways.

"

IMO, #LFC have 6 games after the int break, hopefully with Sturridge, to save this season: Palace A, Ludo A, Sto H, Leic A, Sun H, Basel H

— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) November 8, 2014"

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Captain, vice-captain, new defensive leader: none have shown that charisma and personality needed in recent weeks to ensure that the team overcomes a difficult stretch.

None stood up to be counted in a poor defeat to Newcastle United, or at home one week later to Chelsea. In short, it wasn't good enough from the experienced heads who are meant to lead the team.

"

Sturridge is injured, yes. But after finishing two points ahead of Chelsea last season, for #LFC to end this game with Borini and Lambert...

— Kristian Walsh (@Kristian_Walsh) November 8, 2014"

Sturridge returning brings greater quality, and with improved quality should come better results.

But the No. 15 is just one player in a team; a team which is under-performing. He alone can't be expected to pull Liverpool back up the table and fans shouldn't expect it to be a magic fix just because Sturridge's name is back on the team-sheet.

There's a lot of work to do at Melwood this week for Liverpool before a big game against Crystal Palace on November 23rd.

Follow @karlmatchett