Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that he is not happy with how striker Daniel Sturridge is training recently and has urged him to up his levels during midweek sessions.
The English striker receieved an ear-bashing from the manager after the Merseyside Derby game, which Sturridge had to start from the bench due to suffering a dead-leg, despite playing 90-minutes for England against Germany on Tuesday.
The lack of effort put into training by Sturridge means he is likely to spend more time on the bench, according to his manager, who is less than impressed.
Rodgers said: “I have seen it before. There is a trend. There are maybe some games when he hasn’t played well and that has happened on the back of not training.
“I have got to make a call. Do I put him in again? I know the games in which he has been very good.
“The games he has disappointed in have come when he hasn’t trained. That was the call I made for the derby.
“It is very simple for me. With any player, you have to put yourself on the training field. If you do that, you will be in with a chance of playing.
“If you don’t do that, there is a consequence – you don’t play.
“If you want to be a champion, if you want to win things, you have to be ready. For this game, I just felt Daniel wasn’t ready.
“The boy has got all the ability in the world. The boy has got as much talent as any striker in Europe – look at his pace, his power, skill, touch and ability.
“Hopefully he will come in this week, have a good week in training and get back up to speed. If he does that, he will be in with a great chance of starting at Hull next week.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles
