Can Liverpool cope without Daniel Sturridge?

Liverpool will be without England striker Daniel Sturridge for up to a month

Liverpool have experienced another injury blow as England striker Daniel Sturridge has sustained a calf injury in training that could keep him out of action for between two and four weeks.

The 25-year-old was expected to return to the Reds squad for the trip to QPR on Sunday, after he recovered from a thigh strain that has sidelined him for much of the campaign. He could now miss up to seven games.

Conformation

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed Sturridge’s injury, telling the press: “Daniel has pulled his calf,”

“He’s looking at being out for another two to four weeks. It’s a big blow as we were looking forward to welcoming Daniel back. He has worked tirelessly.

“But we have other players training hard and working hard and we will turn to them. It’s why we bulked up the squad in the summer.”

Missing

Liverpool has looked lacklustre in attack for much of the season without their SAS frontline of last season. The departed Luis Suarez is obviously missed, but Sturridge’s absence has also impacted on the team’s attacking play this season.

The former-Chelsea striker scored 21 Premier League goals in 29 appearances, as he formed a lethal partnership with Suarez. They had an almost telepathic understanding up front which led to the Reds to second place in the Premier League last season.

Maverick Italian striker Mario Balotelli joined Liverpool in the summer for £16million from Serie A giants AC Milan. The former-Manchester City star has made seven appearances for the Reds, but has found the net just once.

The hope would have been for the striker to hit the ground running and try to fill the massive gap left in the Liverpool attack by Suarez’s absence. However, he is no Luis Suarez and has struggled on his return to English football.

To call him a flop at this stage would be harsh, but he has not exactly set the world on fire with his displays for the Reds since his arrival. If his performances do not improve soon, then there will be more questions about whether he was the right signing for the men from Merseyside.

Injured

Sturridge has played in just three of Liverpool’s Premier League games so far this season, scoring one goal. This latest injury setback is terrible news for the player and the team. Sturridge seems to be made of glass at the moment.

For him to be close to a comeback and experience such a setback must be frustrating for everybody involved with the club.

Options

The Reds lacklustre displays without Sturridge this season have put boss Brendan Rodgers under-pressure. Without Sturridge, the Reds have the limited attacking options of Balotelli, compatriot Fabio Borini and England striker Rickie Lambert.

All three of the Reds strikers are internationals and offer different things to Sturridge, but none of them offer the direct running, pace and energy of the England striker. The Reds cannot afford to be without their man striker for much longer.

Title

Last season’s challenge for the Premier League title was a surprise and this season it was always going to be more difficult for the Reds to challenge for the title with some of their rivals strengthening their squad.

To lose Sturridge for much of the season seems to have hampered the Reds season. In their current state Liverpool seem unable to challenge for the Premier League title this season.

Solution

It looks like Liverpool will not get their attacking vigour back until Daniel Sturridge returns to full fitness. Until then Reds boss Brendan Rodgers will have to find a solution to his attacking problems, which may not be so easy.

Can Liverpool cope without Daniel Sturridge?