Striker planning to enjoy the big occasion at Anfield tomorrow
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is comparing Liverpool’s huge Europa League quarter final vs Borussia Dortmund tomorrow to a game on Fifa.
The quarter-final with the German club, who are unbeaten in 2016, is delicately poised at 1-1 ahead of Thursday’s second leg.
Dortmund know they have to score – which is likely to be less of a problem for a side which has found the net 119 times already this season – but as Anfield prepares for another famous European night Sturridge insists the occasion will not get to him.
Sturridge was left out of the Starting XI for Liverpool in the opposite leg, but after scoring at the weekend in the team’s 4-1 home win to Stoke, he’s hoping he may start tomorrow at Anfield, but has big competition from youngster Divock Origi, who is in outstanding form.
‘It’s like when you’re playing a final on FIFA and you’re playing against your mate. You’ve all put £20 in the middle and there’s £100,’ he told Liverpool’s official website.
‘The pressure’s on, your palms are sweaty, but as you get into the game, the nerves go away and you enjoy it – and that’s exactly what it’s like.
‘It’s going to be a great occasion, not just for the players but the fans, for everyone who isn’t involved with Liverpool as well – they’ll enjoy the match.
‘It’s one of those occasions where you just soak it all up, enjoy it, embrace it, have fun. It’s what you live for.
‘It’s just going to be a great night for everyone and you can’t let nerves get the better of you.’
Despite his injuries, Sturridge still has 48 goals in 84 appearences for The Reds,
‘That’s the standard I set, probably a bit better than that, hopefully I’ll be able to continue,’ he added.
‘I know I can perform a lot better than I am now but it’s just that fitness and the repetition of playing 90 minutes is important as well.
‘It’s never easy to score in every game so I can’t really set myself that standard but I think being better than one in two is where you want to be at.
‘One in two is a good strike rate but I’m hard on myself so I don’t want to settle for that.’
One of Liverpool’s biggest games of the season so far takes place tomorrow at Anfield, 8:05 kick off UK time.
By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10
