Confidence, game time and sound tactics: The reinvention of Daniel Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge celebrates after scoring the second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on October 5, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Getty Images)

While Daniel Sturridge and his cultured left foot continue to bang in the goals, it is instructive to note the basic features of a turnaround that makes a good case for him being the signing of the year.

At Liverpool, Sturridge has displayed a ruthlessness and consistency in front of goal that has taken all by surprise, not least his own teammates. Yet he has displayed none of the headstrong behaviour or bouts of arrogance we were led to expect when he was signed from Chelsea.

So, what has driven this run? While intelligent treatment is possibly the major reason, it can be further sub-divided into the following.

Confidence and game time

The transition of Sturridge from the Chelsea bench to the pinnacle of the Premier League scoring charts is remarkable, but owes a good deal to his own sense of self-worth. Like Mario Balotelli, another 23-year old forward who left for greener pastures in January, Sturridge was one step away from fully realising his potential; but like Tantalus, he never could make the final leap and grasp the proverbial grapes. Remember, this is a player who was at one stage feted as the finest young forward in the country.

In 2009 – having run down his contract with Manchester City – Sturridge joined Chelsea, hoping to do well there (at one stage declaring in jest that he would elbow Didier Drogba out of the team). Instead he spent his prime years on the bench, watching the likes of Danny Welbeck and Andy Carroll supersede him for an England place.

At the club level, Sturridge was deployed mostly as an auxiliary in the League Cup, or the occasional EPL or UCL match, but never a certain starter. The confidence of his formative years was starting to ebb.

In January 2013, Sturridge was a struggling third-choice striker with an attitude problem, injury-prone and derided as selfish on the ball. He had been unable to force his way into the Chelsea first team even after the departures of Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, with a declining Fernando Torres still the first-choice.

In this background, the news that another major club were ready to overlook his lack of game time and rated him at 12m pounds was undoubtedly a morale-booster for the player. Others were sceptical; Alex Ferguson for one called it a major gamble, and indeed it was one.

Rodgers’ role

While Brendan Rodgers’ tactical nous has been responsible to an extent (more on that later) for Sturridge’s renaissance, there was possibly a personal touch as well. The role of the manager in football has been under scrutiny of late, most recently by Southampton’s chairman, but it is highly likely that Rodgers played a key role in the psychological revival of a player beset by bouts of frustration.

Rodgers’ brief regime at Liverpool is notable for the number of players who have re-launched their careers after earlier looking set for the transfer chop. Watching Jordan Henderson tear around the park at Anfield, it’s easy to forget that a little over a year ago he was touted as a makeweight for Clint Dempsey (who has since left the Premier League and slipped into MLS obscurity).

Others who found new form under Rodgers include Stewart Downing (surprisingly sold this summer) and Jose Enrique. The arm-around-the-shoulder approach and a bit of straight talking put Sturridge on firm ground: he knew he had a chance to prove himself (his first, and probably his last), he had the trust of his manager (always a major factor) and, for once, he would be the main man.

In the weeks that passed, the remaining doubters were quickly converted. He scored on his Liverpool debut in the FA Cup, then on his Anfield and EPL debuts for the club, the latter coming against Manchester United at Old Trafford. He went on to score at Manchester City, and later against Chelsea – a remarkable spree, given that all three were title contenders till the start of 2013.

A hat-trick at Craven Cottage and a lead role in Liverpool’s stellar start to the new season has, surprisingly, seen the hitherto headstrong player mellow down; despite his success he has kept a low profile; and despite this being the week of his England recall match, he gave a single interview where he preferred talking about his religious beliefs.

Sturridge celebrates with his teammates at the end of the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on September 01, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Getty Images)

Tactics

While Liverpool were expected to struggle without Luis Suarez, his ban by the FA may have well allowed Daniel Sturridge to come into his own. The Suarez ban led to Philippe Coutinho and Sturridge jointly assuming scoring duties as creator and scorer. During those 10 games, Sturridge scored 11 times as Liverpool recorded an impressive 7W 2D 1L.

Coutinho’s specialty is slide-ruler passes that a forward can run on to. Sturridge, in turn is a pacey forward who thrives when playing off the shoulders of the last defender. Essentially, one specializes at providing the ammunition for the other to fire. And while Suarez’s contribution may have been unwitting, bringing the duo to Liverpool and pairing them upfront was a tactical masterstroke.

To get goals from Sturridge, Rodgers has developed a strategy that suits the Englishman’s aggressive style of play. He is a classic English forward: physical, speedy and a good finisher. But Sturridge’s defensive work rate is still low, and, as we saw against Southampton, his creation is dodgy.

Evidently he plays best when asked to lead the line, ahead of or alongside a more creative forward, which allows him to play off the shoulders of the last defender and break into space. (This was partly his problem at Chelsea: being played out on the right instead of the centre limited his effectiveness.)

Having established himself, Sturridge may now benefit from the return of Suarez. The former is a natural number nine (out-and-out striker). Suarez in turn is essentially a nine-and-a-half (playing deeper that Sturridge, creating more chances but still very much a striker). This allows them to play in tandem, increasing the effectiveness of both. At Sunderland, the pair scored three goals between them, with Sturridge assisting both of Suarez’s goals.

As Rodgers explained, “When we’re defending in our half of the pitch, when we can’t press and we are under pressure, I am happy for them both to stay up there. That gives us nine men behind the ball, the opposition have to leave at least two defenders back covering so even if they push their two full-backs on, the maximum number they can put in our half of the pitch is eight.“

“I’ll take that we can defend nine versus eight if that gives me two v two on their half of the pitch because of our strikers’ pace and power.”

And while the merits of the 3-5-2 continue to be debated, given his formidable run of late it is likely that Sturridge will continue to thrive in the new system.