Daniel Sturridge Can Have Bright Liverpool Future, but May Miss out for England

ST. JAKOB-PARK, Basel — Liverpool again attacked down the right. The ball was switched from Roberto Firmino to Philippe Coutinho and then to Daniel Sturridge. He was just inside the box, to the left of goal. He squared up the right-back Mariano Ferreira, who was perhaps slightly distracted by the forward surge of Alberto Moreno.

Having created the space, Sturridge, with barely a waft of his left foot, arced a shot beyond the lunge of Adil Rami, round the outstretched hand of the diving goalkeeper David Soria, and just inside the post. Had it clipped the woodwork something of the aesthetic might have been lost, but it didn’t; it swooshed into the net and the purity was maintained.

The precision of the shot was brilliant, but just as remarkable was the power generated form such an apparently casual swing of the boot. Liverpool led in the UEFA Europa League final.

Sturridge is a player capable of such moments of brilliance. He does appear to be returning to form after his latest injury. Perhaps the tough love of Jurgen Klopp—urging him to understand the difference between “pain” and “real pain,” is paying off.

His movement was good, as it had been in the second leg of the semi-final against Villarreal; he kept finding gaps, kept running in behind the defensive line, in the first half at least. Here, it seemed, was a world-class player.

David Ramos/Getty Images

The thought occurred—and was repeated in various forms on social media—that with the Liverpool man in form, England are blessed with an unusual glut of gifted forwards. How could Roy Hodgson possibly leave him out? How could he prefer Wayne Rooney to Sturridge?

And so again was exposed the major problem of international management, or at least international management as it stands in relation to public opinion, which is that every time a player does something good, every time a player hits form, a lobby forms demanding their inclusion.

But football is not just about picking the best players. It’s about finding the right blend. It is just about conceivable that England could play with Harry Kane flanked by Jamie Vardy and Sturridge, but it would risk the three becoming extremely narrow.

More likely is Vardy and Kane with Rooney played behind them at the tip of a diamond, or perhaps a 4-3-3 with Kane flanked by Raheem Sterling and/or Adam Lallana, and perhaps Vardy or Sturridge or Rooney drifting in off the other flank. Just because England have three talented centre-forwards doesn’t mean they should play them all.

Of course it’s a positive that Hodgson has options, and particularly that Sturridge seems to have run into form over the past couple of weeks. It may be that that’s enough to get him a start ahead of Vardy.

More likely he will be cover and an explosive option off the bench. One goal, no matter how brilliant, no matter the stage, doesn’t change that.

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Daniel Sturridge has now scored 5 goals in his last 7 games for Liverpool.

Stunning finish. pic.twitter.com/8BWcSZ7SZZ

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 18, 2016"

Sturridge was far less involved in the second half. To a large degree that’s to do with service, and Liverpool’s problems in that second half were rooted in a collective panic as much as anything else.

Three times this season, they’ve had a two-goal lead and failed to win; this was a loss of control similar to that suffered against Southampton, Sunderland and Newcastle United.

But that second half also highlighted how Sturridge can fade out of games, that he doesn’t necessarily offer himself as an option, that he’s not a great outlet.

The criticism that he is a highlights player is an exaggeration, but there is some truth to it. That seems counter-intuitive when he is so good playing on the break—something that was apparent two seasons ago in his partnership with Luis Suarez—but it may be that he needs somebody to play off in that circumstance.

Given the likelihood that England will end up playing on the break in France this summer, his countering ability could be key, but it would most plausibly be as a partner for Kane.

Being extremely demanding, it’s perhaps also the case that his finishing is not quite back to where it should be.

His darts behind the defence brought chance after chance in that second leg against Villarreal, but only one goal. He was wasteful. That happens, of course, and up to a point the more important thing is that he was getting in the positions.

The goals will come, especially for a forward of such proven finishing ability as Sturridge. But that thought that he isn’t at his most clinical at the moment recurred in Basel when he slightly scuffed his finish after a clever slipped ball from Lallana, hitting his shot into the body of Soria.

David Ramos/Getty Images

That’s not to dismiss Sturridge, merely to point out that his goal against Sevilla, stunning as it was, shouldn’t obscure all else.

His form is returning, but there are doubts, there are flaws. There is a reason that Klopp has at times preferred to start with Divock Origi, who is ostensibly less skilful.

The Belgian works hard, pulls defenders about and leads the press. He is a more diligent, industrious forward, and there are times when that is more important than the ability to produce the sort of magic of which Sturridge is capable.

But what must be encouraging for Liverpool is the recent sense that Sturridge is beginning to thrive under Klopp. In the early stages it appeared their relationship had been strained, but there has recently seemed also to be affection.

Sturridge’s ability has never really been questioned, but his focus has. There have been times when he has demanded a specific role in the side, times when he has seemed to shirk the less glamorous side of the game—and perhaps to an extent he still does.

The last month or so has shown that he can have a future in a Klopp team. Whether he has a place in the England side, though, is another matter.