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Daniel Sturridge has backed Liverpool's squad to rise to the challenge of filling the void left by Luis Suarez's departure to Barcelona. - Kelly & Usher: Were Liverpool right to sell Suarez?
- Hunter: Suarez has questions to answer
- Ledwith: Barca risk depends on Suarez The Uruguay international completed a 75 million-pound transfer to Camp Nou despite currently being banned for four months following a bite on Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup. While Brendan Rodgers faces a struggle to replace the 31 goals and 12 assists Suarez garnered during the 2013-14 Premier League campaign, Sturridge thinks the Anfield side will pull together and build on their second-placed finish. "People have to step up," the England international told Jamaica's Nationwide Radio. "When stars leave, a new star can be born, as they say. "There are a lot of players that can take that mantle, but it is a team game, regardless of whether there are star players within that team. It's not about one person, it's about the team." While Rodgers has signed Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic to build his squad up for the added demands of Champions League football, Sturridge believes Raheem Sterling can become a key player for the club after shining last season. "Me and Raheem are very close," he continued. "To me, he's my little brother and I look after him and try to help him as a footballer and as a person. "I didn't have anyone take me under their wing when I was his age, so it is important now that I understand my role, which is the big brother role. I guide him where I can, and that's as important as being his friend and his teammate. "It's going to be great. Raheem is a great player. He's young, but he's got a lot of talent, and talent that sometimes people don't get to see as well. "He's young and he is still improving. He's already improved so much, which I am happy about, and he will continue to do that."
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