A wasted talent, Sturridge failed to live up to his huge potential

A great talent for the English national team. He was supposed to be Ronney’s successor in the Albion jersey. Along with Suarez and Sterling, he formed a killer attacking trio at Liverpool. During the 2013/14 season, he became the second top scorer in the Premier League, his future seemed rosy. Why was he never able to reach his full potential? What direction did his career take after leaving Liverpool?

A difficult start to his career

This promising striker started his career in Manchester City’s academy. He managed to break into the first team, but didn’t impress much. In 3 seasons he played only 21 games and scored 5 goals. It was obvious that the Citizens were not the team where he could fully develop his talent. So after the 2008/09 season, a transfer to Chelsea in London followed.

Even there he had huge competition (Drogba, Torres, Lukaku). Getting a stable place in the squad was quite unrealistic. However, he was able to improve in the Chelsea jersey, he was much more productive than in his previous engagement.

He was also helped by a loan spell at second division Bolton (13 games, 11 goals). The 2011/12 season was his best in a Blues jersey (30 games, 11 goals). However, he was sidelined again the following season, making only sporadic appearances. As an expendable player, he joined ambitious Liverpool in January 2013.

A wake-up call at Liverpool

The Reds were hungry for success, having won their last major trophy in 2005 (winning the Champions League). Gerrard and co. were to be brought back to the top by the promising coach Rodgers. Along with Sturridge, the club also acquired the talented Coutinho from Inter.

The backbone of the team (Reina, Carragher, Agger, Gerrard, Suarez) was suitably joined by talented youngsters (Coutinho, Sturridge, Henderson). It seemed that better times might be dawning again in the LFC camp.

The Liverpool signing was a jackpot for Sturridge. He was given a chance and he made the most of it. He started his Liverpool career in style. He scored 10 goals in 14 games and helped the team to reach 7th place in the final table. Together with Suarez, he formed a formidable attacking duo, with the talented Sterling and Coutinho also contributing to the offensive play. The Reds’ offense went fearful again.

In the 2013/14 season, Suárez and co. turned it up a notch. The Uruguayan cannonballer formed an unstoppable attacking trident with Sturridge and Sterling (they scored a total of 62 goals throughout the season). Although Liverpool’s defence was languishing, the unstoppable attack was able to outshoot most opponents.

It was a season of a lifetime for the unstoppable Suárez (31 goals + 12 assists, the Premier League’s top scorer). It was also a season of a lifetime for Sturridge (21 goals), who missed several games due to injury. Thanks to a productive offensive, they even attacked the title. However, the end of the season didn’t work out so well for them and that’s why they finished second (just behind Manchester City).

Sturridge is paying for his poor health

After the season Suárez left for Barcelona, Sturridge was supposed to be the main attacking thrust. However, fate would have it otherwise. Since the 2014/15 season, his health absences started to multiply (he had a total of 15 health problems in the Liverpool jersey).

His playing strengths were great technique and, most importantly, devilish speed. Due to frequent injuries, he began to deteriorate rapidly in these attributes, his performance was on a downward trend

He spent the key seasons 2014/15 and 2015/16 rather on the sidelines, after that it wasn’t the same from his side. He was more of a rotation player at the end of his Liverpool engagement. He scored more goals in the 2013/14 season (21) than in the rest of his Liverpool career (19 goals in 5 seasons). As his star quickly skyrocketed, he faded into obscurity with equal speed.

The Turkish mission ended before it even began

After the end of the 2018/19 season, his current contract at Liverpool expired and he became a free agent. A new signing didn’t wait long, with Sturridge agreeing a deal with Turkish side Trabzonspor.

Here too he was plagued by frequent injuries (he had to miss a total of 16 games). Nevertheless, he had a relatively successful 2019/20 season (11 games, 4 goals + 4 assists). However, a big Sturridge scandal broke at the end of the season.

It was revealed that he and his friends had bet considerable sums on his summer departure from Liverpool. For this he was punished with a four-month ban. He is currently based in Perth, Australia, where he is merely finishing his fading career.

Why hasn’t he fulfilled his promising potential?

Sturridge turned out like many other athletes. He was a player with great potential, great technique, speed and a high game mindset. He could easily have been as productive as, say, Harry Kane.

After all, he clearly proved it in the 2013/14 season. However, a huge number of injuries prevented him from doing so. But one thing is for sure. Daniel Sturridge’s 2013/14 season has been written in golden letters in the modern era of the Premier League.

Source: Livesport, Twitter, Transfermarkt