Daniel Sturridge could be in line for his first start since August the 31st in this Saturday’s Merseyside Derby.
Everton host Liverpool in the evening kick-off and Brendan Rodgers believes that Liverpool’s talisman hasn’t got long to wait before he can start.
The striker has made two brief cameo appearances against West Ham and Bolton, respectively. Within 12 minutes of his return, the prolific forward netted against the Hammers. Sturridge arguably changed the outcome of the game against Bolton, more recently, too. Sturridge is massively important to Brendan Rodgers’ side and the way they operate.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s crucial encounter versus Everton, Brendan Rodgers had this to say about the #15:
“It’s about liaising with Daniel and the medical team in terms of the risk but he isn’t far away rom starting now, he is really champing at the bit. We will analyse things over the coming days.”
“We want to make sure he’s going to be available now for the rest of the season. If the timing isn’t quite right, it could damage us and hurt us, but his appetite to play is there, which is great.”
Rodgers also added:
“I need to speak with my staff and Daniel and make a decision. It’s difficult because these are games we want to win, they are not fitness games. We want to win football matches so it’s hard if someone only needs 30/45 minutes. But he isn’t far away from starting.”
As well as the Everton clash, Liverpool have a hugely vital game with Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham are also in and amongst the top four challengers, so this game could have a massive impact on both sides. Rodgers spoke about the game and Sturridge:
“They are both very important games in different ways. It’s a local derby and you want to win those. That’s the only concentration but of course we want to win on Tuesday as well. If Daniel wasn’t to start at Everton, he would be in with a great chance of starting against Tottenham.”
So Rodgers has refused to rule out a potential start for Daniel Sturridge. But it sounds like he will definitely be starting one of the next two games. If not both.
