Comparing Liverpool's Stats with and Without Daniel Sturridge

Liverpool have undoubtedly missed star striker Daniel Sturridge this season, and Sunday's clash away to Stoke City on the final day of the Premier League season could see them slip to seventh place in the table—without Sturridge's incision, the Reds have struggled.

After undergoing a hip operation in Boston earlier in May, Sturridge posted an update via Instagram with the doctor who performed the procedure, declaring: "Everything this man has explained to me gives me assurance that I'll be back to my best in no time!"

The hope is that Sturridge will be back fit and well for next season, but how will his return impact the Reds' prospects?

Here's how Liverpool's statistics have compared with and without Sturridge in the side this Premier League season.

Defensive Work

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Acknowledging the non-involvement of £16 million striker Mario Balotelli after January's FA Cup fourth-round draw at home to Bolton Wanderers, Rodgers highlighted the Italian's jarring with his system, as reported by Tony Barrett of the Times via Twitter.

"If you can't press, you can't be a part of the team. It doesn't matter who the player is," Rodgers claimed.

Much of Rodgers' success at Liverpool has been built around a high-intensity pressing game, flowing from the defence to the attack, so how has Sturridge contributed to the side's success in terms of defensive work this season?

In games Sturridge has played this season, Liverpool have made a combined total of 330 tackles and interceptions, averaging at a 27.5 per game.

Without Sturridge, Liverpool have made a combined total of 705 tackles and interceptions, at an average of 28.2 per game.

Clearly, this isn't entirely conclusive, but Liverpool have made more of a defensive contribution without Sturridge this season than with him.

Possession

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Last season, Liverpool dominated teams with a direct style of attacking football, with Steven Gerrard feeding Sturridge and Luis Suarez quickly and to devastating effect. The Reds averaged 54 per cent possession during their matches in 2013/14.

Has it changed this season, and has Sturridge's presence affected that?

Overall in 2014/15, the Reds have averaged 52 per cent possession in the Premier League.

In games Sturridge has played, Liverpool have averaged just 47 per cent of ball possession; without him, they have seen 56 percent of the ball during league games.

In theory, this suggests that when Sturridge has played, Liverpool have opted for a more loose, direct approach in attack, focusing more on getting the ball forward and servicing their star striker rather than a more patient—or lethargic—buildup without him.

But has that direct approach resulted in more chances and goals for the Reds?

Chances Created

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When Sturridge returned for a brief period midway through the season, Rodgers praised his contribution to this side's forward line, as reported by Kristian Walsh of the Liverpool Echo.

"I've said before he's a top-class talent, it's great to see his movement—and his relationship with other players in the system," Rodgers said. "He brings real life to it, his quality is there to be seen even though he's still looking for his fitness."

In games that Sturridge has played this season, Liverpool have created 121 chances, or roughly 10 per game.

In games without Sturridge, Liverpool have created 302 chances, or roughly 12 per game.

As Rodgers attests, the striker was arguably struggling with fitness in nine of the 12 games in which he featured this season, but interestingly, the Reds fared better in terms of chances created without him up front.

Goals Scored

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Midway through the season, Adam Lallana lamented the loss of Sturridge this season, as well as that of Luis Suarez, speaking to Neil Jones of the Liverpool Echo.

"After losing Luis Suarez and missing Daniel Sturridge up top lately, it’s been difficult," Lallana said. "But we’ve had to find different ways of winning games; other people have had to chip in with goals."

Between them, Suarez and Sturridge scored 52 league goals last season, more than the entire Liverpool squad's tally of 51 for this season so far. So how have Rodgers' side truly fared with and without the No. 15 this term? Was most of the goalscoring magic from the boots of Suarez?

This season, when Sturridge has been on the pitch, the Reds have scored 15 goals, or a goal every 67 minutes.

Without Sturridge on the pitch this season, Liverpool have scored 36 goals, or a goal every 65 minutes.

Obviously, Sturridge's injuries have played a significant part in this struggle to contribute—but Lallana's view about needing to find different ways of winning games, or at least scoring, seems to have been realised.

Games Won

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"Everyone has seen that when he is fit and playing, he's an outstanding player. He has been a big miss to us this season, but let's hope he can get back fit and help contribute for the club," Rodgers said of Sturridge earlier in May, as reported by the club's official website.

"Once he's fully fit, we know what he can produce. If he's at that level of fitness, he can be a key player for us."

Sturridge's status as a key player for Liverpool represents his ability as a match-winner, but how has his presence aided the Reds in terms of games won this season?

In the 12 league games in which Sturridge has made a contribution this season, Liverpool have won eight, which equates to a win ratio of 67 per cent. Overall, the Reds took 26 points from a possible 36 with Sturridge, which is 72 per cent.

Without Sturridge's help in the other 25 games in the league so far, Liverpool have won 12, a win ratio of 48 per cent. Overall, Liverpool took 37 points from a possible 75 without him—49 per cent.

So despite the side's relative improvement without him in terms of defensive work, possession, chances created and goals scored, his influence on Liverpool's attacking approach has a clear effect on the side's fortunes.

It can also be argued that if he were fully fit, his contribution in terms of goals would improve significantly.

Rodgers will be hoping for an uninterrupted season for the striker next time around.

Statistics via Squawka and WhoScored.com.

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