Why Liverpool must keep Daniel Sturridge

It is widely assumed that Liverpool will part company with Daniel Sturridge this summer and accept anything they can get for him just to remove his salary from the books. It is becoming increasingly clear that such a move would be a mistake, particularly with Danny Ings expected to move on any day now.
Sturridge has looked sharp so far in preseason and hasn’t missed a session, though that should not really influence any decision on his future. Frankly, it means nothing. It is what others do that should determine whether the Reds keep Sturridge, and on the evidence of the three friendlies we’ve seen so far, it doesn’t appear that Sturridge has anything to worry about.

Let’s be clear: Sturridge’s body will break down sooner or later. It does every year, usually more than once. It isn’t a matter of if he will be sidelined, it’s a matter of when and for how long. It might be next week, it might be next month. If Liverpool are really lucky, it might not be until the month after, but Sturridge, who turns 29 in September, will eventually pick up an injury.

There will be clubs willing to take Sturridge, but none will pay anything like what a player of his ability is worth. It’s debatable whether clubs will be prepared to pay any kind of fee at all given the certainty of injury and the inflated wages involved. With Ings understandably wanting to leave for regular football, that leaves Sturridge (despite his fitness issues) as the clear No. 1 option to back up Roberto Firmino.
Sturridge is not the player he once was and injuries have taken a toll on him, but ask yourself this: Who would you rather have coming off the bench when you need a goal: Sturridge, Origi, Solanke or Brewster?

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