Gerrard urges Liverpool’s Sturridge to be ‘patient’

Matt Stead

Steven Gerrard has urged Daniel Sturridge to prove he can be a Liverpool hero in a team “on the verge of something really big”.

Former Reds captain Gerrard believes there is a key role in Jurgen Klopp’s plans for his former team-mate and challenged him to show patience.

Sturridge has started just five Premier League matches this season, and has shown little of the form that made him such a threat to defences when paired with Luis Suarez, before the Uruguayan left for Barcelona two and a half years ago.

He played from the first whistle against Plymouth on Wednesday, before being subbed off in the 76th minute, and it was Lucas Leiva who grabbed the goal in a 1-0 win that carried Klopp’s team into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Sturridge will hope to be regularly selected by new England boss Gareth Southgate, and it was put to Gerrard that limited club action may not help his international chances.

“That’s the thing that Daniel’s got to assess himself. Only he knows whether he’s happy, whether he’s frustrated or whether he wants to go somewhere else and challenge himself,” Gerrard said on BT Sport 2.

“But Liverpool aren’t going to let him go for cheap. Liverpool need him. He scores goals when he plays, his minutes-to-goals ratio is incredible.

“I’m sure if someone came along with a huge, huge offer and Daniel wanted it there could be a solution there, but as it stands right now Liverpool need Daniel Sturridge and I can’t see him going anywhere short term.

“He’s capable of world-class moments and performances and I think Liverpool are on the verge of something really big under this manager.

“Maybe he is frustrated from week to week but there’s a great chance he could get silverware with Liverpool in the near future.

“If I were him I’d be patient. I think there’s good things on the horizon.”