Football
9y

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge says he was fit to play against Chelsea

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has revealed he could have played in the club's Capital One Cup semifinal second leg defeat at Chelsea.

The England international told the Daily Telegraph that, despite travelling with Brendan Rodgers' squad for the 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, he was frustrated to miss out on playing.

"I could have played in that semifinal, and it was the most difficult thing for me," Sturridge said. "I went to London with the team. I wanted to push myself and I wanted it so bad.

"It was the management who made the decision. I argued my case, but at the end of the day they made the best decision for us going forward, for the club, for myself. I can't be too upset with the decision they made."

Sturridge has not played for his club since the end of August and recently stated that he "missed playing." The forward has struggled with persistent injuries throughout his career but, since returning from a warm weather rehabilitation break in the United States, his outlook has improved.

But he is now expected to make his return against West Ham on Saturday afternoon.

"I played in a long season with Liverpool and went to the World Cup, and that was the first season I played such an intense programme," Sturridge, who has also worked under sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters, added. "I came back for preseason and picked up an injury, which hindered everything going forward.

"I am trying to savour it a bit more. I am very hard on myself the majority of the time and don't enjoy the highs as I should. I'd score, may play well and just think, 'OK, tick that off the list and on to the next,' but you have to embrace the moment.

"Being out for so long has also made me realise how much I want to achieve and understand what I have to do to get there."

The 25-year-old failed to live up to his potential at previous clubs Chelsea and Manchester City but, having seemingly matured under Rodgers, Sturridge says he can become a leader for younger players such as teammate Raheem Sterling.

"As a young player I think it's important to have people who talk to you," Sturridge said. "I'm 25. I'm not old but I'm not a young, young player.

"It's easy to become complacent when you are earning decent money as a young player. It's important to understand that there is a lot to achieve and there is a long way to go before you are where you actually want to be."

And Sturridge hopes to follow in the footsteps of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who is leaving Anfield this summer for pastures new at LA Galaxy.

"Words can't describe what he's done for Liverpool as well as his country," he said. "I'm devastated. I think he'll be at the club in some capacity very soon and I'm sure he'll manage the club one day.

"I'm looking forward to the future with the club. I'm looking forward to achieving something because we will achieve something. Mentally I know where I want to be, where I hope the club will be and where the management will want to be: we want to be the best."

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