Zimpapers Logo

Daniel Sturridge is ready to step up and fill the sizeable gap left by Luis Suárez in the Liverpool attack and says his team-mates need to do likewise as they begin life without the prolific Uruguayan.Suárez finished as Liverpool’s leading scorer in each of his three seasons at Anfield, including netting 31 goals in the Premier League during his side’s second-placed finish in the last campaign.

However, Brendan Rodgers’ men will not be able to rely on Suárez next term after the 27-year-old was sold to Barcelona for a club-record £75m this summer, but Sturridge insists there is more than enough talent at Liverpool to ensure the club continue moving forward.

The 24-year-old, who was second to Suárez in the Premier League scoring charts last season with 21 goals, said: “It was a unique partnership, and I wish Luis all the best. We shared some good times together. We created history with our goals and became the most successful Liverpool partnership in one season.

“But in terms of next season for the goals, I’ll step up myself and everyone has to. It’s everyone’s job to do that, the new boys who have come in as well as the players who have been there all season. We will move forward as a team.”

Athough Suárez has gone, Rodgers has been busy adding to his squad this summer, with the England internationals Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana being brought in along with Emre Can, Lazar Markovic and Dejan Lovren.

Sturridge believes the future looks bright at Anfield, adding: “This is a huge club, with a lot of players who can step up. Luis has left.

That’s football, he’s moved on. For me, with the signings the manager has made – exciting players, young players, up-and-comers as they call them – we are going to have that winning mentality.

“We will still have the mentality to move forward, be an exciting squad, playing attacking football and that’s the Liverpool way. Whether we are underdogs or favourites, it will not change our mentality. We are a young, hungry squad looking to put our stamp down, not just in the Premier League but Europe as well.”— The Guardian