Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher doubts Daniel Sturridge's long-term future at Anfield

Sturridge is likely to start up front for the Reds against Manchester United on Monday but Carragher reckons he's fortunate that other players are injured.

Jamie Carragher has cast doubt on Daniel Sturridge's long-term future at Liverpool by suggesting he wouldn't make it into Jurgen Klopp's best XI.

Sturridge is in line to make his 100th Reds appearance in Monday's huge match against Manchester United, but that might not have been the case had Adam Lallana and Georginio Wijnaldum not been doubts for the match with groin and hamstring concerns respectively.

When Klopp has had all his players available to him, he has tended to opt for an attacking four of Lallana, Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, forcing Sturridge to settle for a place on the bench.

The former Manchester City and Chelsea forward is yet to convince Klopp that he is the man to lead the line since the German took over a year ago, the Liverpool Echo report.

And, when asked if Sturridge has a long-term future at Liverpool, Carragher said: “Possibly not.

Carragher doubts whether Sturridge would make it into Klopp's first XI

“Because I think when Jurgen Klopp picks his best team, when everyone’s fit, I don’t think Sturridge is in it, at this moment.

“I think Daniel may play on Monday because of a few injuries and Firmino may play out wide and Coutinho may play central, that was the situation at Swansea and Liverpool won.

“But when everyone’s fit and firing, I don’t think he quite gets in the eleven.

“When he doesn’t, I think it’s (been) proven at the end of last season at times, and even this season on the back of a great win at Chelsea.

The 26-year-old is expected to start against Manchester United

"I think there was a home game a week later and he wasn’t involved – having been part of a victory at Chelsea – I think that shows that.”

Carragher was keen to stress how highly he rates Sturridge as a goalscorer, but has doubts whether Klopp appreciates his all-round game.

Sturridge has scored 55 goals in just 77 starts since moving to the Reds in January 2013, but has found himself sidelined for a number of Liverpool’s most important fixtures.

Sturridge has often found himself benched for the Reds' biggest games

The former Chelsea man was on the bench in both legs of Liverpool’s Europa League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund last season, with injury to Divock Origi eventually seeing him back in the side for the home leg with Villarreal and Europa League final.

Carragher added: “I think Daniel’s goal scoring record alone is fantastic – he would walk into most teams – but Jurgen Klopp wants a lot more than just scoring goals from his attacking players.

“He wants work rate, players coming back to help the team. I think Firmino fits that bill for him at this moment in that central role.”.

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Klopp says Sturridge doesn't need to change as striker prepares for Liverpool return

England striker has trained all week after missing opening weekend win.

Jurgen Klopp insists Daniel Sturridge doesn’t need to change to fit his Liverpool blueprint as the striker returns to the squad for Saturday’s trip to Burnley.

Sturridge is expected to feature at Turf Moor after missing last weekend’s thrilling 4-3 win at Arsenal.

The England international was available for the opening game but after a minor hip problem Klopp decided he would benefit more from extra training at Melwood.

With Sadio Mane likely to miss out due to a shoulder injury, it’s a battle between Sturridge and Divock Origi for a starting spot against the Clarets.

“Of course Daniel is an option,” Klopp said.

“He was not match fit last week. That’s how it is in football. If you don’t have other options you need to take what you can get because you can’t switch the game to another date.

“Sometimes players have to play with 50% or 60% fitness, but when you have options you need to use the time with the other players and bring them fitness wise to the next level.

“Dan had a pre-season but it was interrupted with a few little injuries.

“The last one was little too but it was enough that he could not train so we used the time when he was fit again for training. Now he has had the whole week involved in team training so he is an option.”

Sturridge’s absence at the Emirates received little attention as Roberto Firmino led the line impressively and Liverpool scored four.

The Reds no longer look reliant on Sturridge with fellow frontmen Firmino, Origi and Danny Ings all perfectly suited to the high intensity style Klopp wants the Reds to play.

But the manager fully appreciates the injection of quality a fully fit Sturridge is able to provide.

“I don’t want to transform Daniel into a marathon runner,” Klopp added.

“I hope that we defend so smart that we won’t have to always run like devils.

“I saw we broke some records at Arsenal with running but it is more that you’re always able to make the right decisions.

“In football, what you don’t have in your mind, you have in your legs. So then you run and have to close the gaps, but it is not always about the highest intensity.

“I do not want Daniel Sturridge running like whoever. I want to use his skills.

“I know about his quality. Our game is not a problem for Daniel.”

Gossip: Paul Pogba, Lionel Messi and…. Jordon Ibe

UNITED TO MAKE £100M POGBA BID
The whole ‘Paul Pogba to Manchester United’ thing gathers pace by the day. We can’t quite yet accept that this anything more than just a desire for it to happen. Real Madrid or staying put at Juventus are the eventualities that our brains most compute.

Still, the Daily Mirror believe that United are going to go all out on this one. They report that United will bid £100m for Pogba, and offer the Juventus midfielder £300,000 a week to make the move. That would surely be enough for Juve to accept and Pogba to at least think about making the switch. Damn, we’ve got all excited again.

CHELSEA HOLD MESSI TALK…HAHAHAHA
Chelsea hold Lionel Messi talks? Sure, The Sun. Why not. Why not indeed.

This one is a Phil Cadden ‘exclusive’, reporting that Lionel Messi’s father Jorge met Roman Abramovich on the Chelsea owner’s yacht. They put two and two together to say that Chelsea could sign Messi for a fee that would smash the £100m mark.

It’s a lovely big story on a slow news day, but fails to appreciate the elephant in the room that is Barcelona’s unwillingness to sell the best player in the world.

We’ll say it now: The Sun can do all the exclusive splashes they want, but if Chelsea sign Messi this summer this gossiper will eat his shoes and film it.

LIVERPOOL TO GET £15M FOR IBE
We’re sticking with The Sun now, and their claim that Bournemouth are ‘testing’ Liverpool with a £15m bid for Jordon Ibe. Presumably by ‘testing’ they mean testing Liverpool’s ability to say “Yes please” as loudly and quickly as possible?

Ibe has shown flashes of excellence at Anfield and is still just 20 years old, but he’s also going to seriously struggle for minutes next season. James Milner, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Adam Lallana, Christian Benteke, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings, Divock Origi, Jordan Henderson, Marko Grujic, Sadio Mane, Lucas Leiva, Emre Can, Joe Allen, Cameron Brannagan, Mario Balotelli, Lazar Markovic, Sheyi Ojo and Luis Alberto are, as things stand, competing with Ibe for six starting positions. He doesn’t have the Europa League to get experience in.

On Wednesday we created a list of the most expensive uncapped English players. By Thursday, we have reports of a player going top of that list.

AND THE REST

West Ham are looking to hijack Crystal Palace’s move for Liverpool striker Christian Benteke, 25… West Ham co-owner David Sullivan says the club were priced out of a move for Boca Juniors forward Carlos Tevez, 32. They offered him £150,000 a week but the Argentine asked for £250,000 a week to return to his first English side next season… Middlesbrough are considering a move for Fenerbahce striker Robin van Persie, 32… Manchester City will have to spend more than £100m if they are to capture Leonardo Bonucci and John Stones… Juventus are considering a £17 million bid for Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic, who could be surplus to requirements with the Blues.

England's youth is a strength at Euro, says Daniel Sturridge

Only four players in England squad are aged over 30 and eight have played fewer than 10 internationals but striker Daniel Sturridge feels that should hold no fears they try to win the European Championship for the first time.

England's lack of international experience can work in their favour, Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge said as their Euro 2016 opener against Russia looms.
 
Roy Hodgson's starting line-up for Saturday's match in Marseille is likely to include the likes of Tottenham Hotspur trio Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Harry Kane, none of whom have played at a senior tournament.

Other squad members such as Liverpool's Nathaniel Clyne, Everton's John Stones and Southampton's Ryan Bertrand only have a smattering of caps and Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford made his debut against Australia only last month.

Sturridge, who has earned only 18 caps since his international start in 2011, is relatively senior at 26 in a squad that is the youngest in the tournament.

Only four players are aged over 30 and eight have played fewer than 10 internationals.

But that should hold no fears as England try to win the competition for the first time, Sturridge said.

"I don't see why we can't be successful because we're young, I don't think age has anything to do with it, it's how we play as a team," Sturridge said after a training session at England's base in Chantilly on Tuesday.

"It's a young squad, and that's a strength it's not a weakness. We know that there's going to be a lot of eyes on us because we're England. I don't feel there is any pressure on us. I feel like we will enjoy the occasion.

"If you go back to Manchester United, the Liverpool sides and all other clubs around the world who have had young squads and young players, they had a gelling period and became successful."

After another injury-plagued season Sturridge is vying with the likes of Kane and Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy for a starting spot.

England's only injury worry for the clash with Russia is Ryan Bertrand who could not train with the squad on Tuesday.

Daniel Sturridge reveals who he was texting while England were playing

Liverpool striker says he is a team player

Daniel Sturridge has revealed who he was busy texting during England's 2-1 friendly win over Australia recently - and insists he is a team player.

The Liverpool striker appeared preoccupied during the international friendly at the Stadium of Light, where he was in the dugout nursing an injury.

He was criticised in some quarters for using his mobile phone more than watching the action on the pitch, but Sturridge has explained he was busy checking on a charity event he was heavily involved in.

"It was my first annual charity event in Birmingham that night," he said.

"My family had put the event on and they were texting me the whole night. It's important to watch my team-mates play but if I receive a text message about my charity event, of course I'm going to reply to it.

"I'm trying to do something positive for my community in Birmingham as well as in Jamaica. Of course I want my team-mates to do well and there was no disrespect at all."

The Sturridge added he was very much a team player.

"We can't win this thing if there's egos or problems in the camp," he said.

England's Daniel Sturridge during a training session at Stade de Bourgognes, Chantilly.

"It's about us being here as a team. I look at other countries in many competitions and when they score everyone is off the bench and they are all involved, all jumping on each other celebrating - and that's how we have to be.

"We have to be a team. It's very important, on and off the pitch.

"We don't have our mums, dads, kids and all those things here. So we're our family and we have to be together.

"It's not about 'I have to play' or 'he has to play'. If we're not here as a nation, and as a team together, we won't win it. That's how it is."

Sturridge's all-for-one outlook did not stretch as far as agreeing to play the role of 'good tourist' though.

"I'm not here for a holiday," was his response when the notion was floated.

"Nobody wants to sit on the bench. I want to play, of course, but it's down to the manager to choose his team and I have to understand that."

Jamie Carragher says Mamadou Sakho has let himself and Liverpool down

Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has "let himself and his club down badly" with his failed drugs test, according to former Reds centre-back Jamie Carragher.

UEFA is currently investigating a possible anti-doping violation by Sakho, who failed a drugs test after Liverpool's Europa League second-leg tie at Manchester United last month.

It is understood the failed test is associated with a fat-burning supplement and Sakho, who was pulled out of Saturday's game against Newcastle but has not been suspended either by Liverpool or UEFA, now faces an anxious wait to see whether he will receive a playing ban.

The France international is likely to ask for his B sample to be tested, with the deadline for that request set for Tuesday.

Carragher, whose one-club playing career came to an end with his retirement in 2013, told Sky Sports on Monday: "It's a nightmare for the player.

"I think he's let himself and his club down badly, because he was becoming a really important player for Liverpool.

"There are serious questions to be asked of him.

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"He's had a great campaign. He's one of the leaders of the team now. You think of the Borussia Dortmund game, the Manchester United games especially, how well he played in those. It's now how Liverpool fill that void.

"But for a professional footballer - or any sportsman, really - it's not acceptable."

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) says the Sakho case should warn players there is no ''magic answer'' to solving weight issues.

Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho reacts after missing a shot on goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 20, 2016. AFP/Getty Images

''The culture has moved away from food and towards supplements and using potions and lotions,'' BDA spokesperson Aisling Pigott told Press Association Sport.

''But athletes have to be extremely careful because unless those supplements are legal there is a big risk that they could be contaminated.

''I see a lot of under-18 footballers today talking about supplements, but you can not afford to go down the illegal route.

''Fat-burning supplements are difficult to monitor and if there was anything reliable to burn fat, it would be introduced across the board in the health service because of the (obesity) crisis we have.

''People are looking for the magic answer all the time, but it does not exist.''

It is understood that Sakho might have failed a drugs test as some fat-burners consist of mild-to-moderate stimulant-type drugs such as ephedrine.

Those drugs could enhance performance by increasing metabolism and providing extra energy, but the BDA say illegal supplements can also have the opposite effect.

''You can have a bunch of placebo ingredients cooked up, but these are generally high in caffeine and can have a negative effect on performance,'' said Pigott.

''They can affect sleep and make an individual anxious.

''They are not legal and safe, and I would be surprised to hear of any elite athlete taking these supplements.

''It's also vital that any organisation knows the risk of supplements, and football clubs must spend more time on education and have a broader level of knowledge.

''They must make it clear that it's not a good idea for a player to go into a shop and buy a fat-burning supplement, because it just doesn't work.''

Sturridge and Firmino punish dismal United as De Gea prevents humiliation

Advantage Liverpool, and a healthy one at that, yet it would have been game, set and match against Manchester United but for the heroics of goalkeeper David de Gea.

Daniel Sturridge's questionable first-half penalty and a close-range strike by Roberto Firmino, following an awful mistake by United's Michael Carrick, ensured that Liverpool will travel to Old Trafford for next Thursday's second leg with a commanding 2-0 lead.

But it could have been five or six, had it not been for De Gea's catalogue of crucial saves on a night when the poverty of Louis van Gaal's United we exposed by a confident and energetic Liverpool.

United mustered just one shot on target all night, but Liverpool's failure to convert at least one more of their chances means that they will travel to Manchester with the tie still alive, but only just.

There have clearly been more significant encounters between these two clubs since the first of 194 previous meetings in April 1894.

Liverpool and United have fought out FA Cup and League Cup finals, battled for points at the business end of the league and almost contested a Champions League final in Moscow in 2008, when only a narrow Chelsea victory against Liverpool in the last four prevented English football's traditional superpowers facing each other in the biggest game of all.

So a last-16 clash in the Europa League was some way down the pecking order, but with both clubs attempting to emerge from periods of transition, the outcome of this tie will only boost the victors and leave the losers searching for answers and a route back to the glory days.

Yearning

Perhaps a yearning for the days when they were kings prompted Liverpool to turn their pre-match soundtrack into some kind of 1980s party, with Eye of the Tiger and The Final Countdown being boomed around Anfield.

If only the likes of Souness, Dalglish, Hansen and Rush could be dusted off and wheeled out too, Jürgen Klopp's plans for a Liverpool revolution would be far further down the line.

The same applies to United under Van Gaal. Mounting injuries and poor summer recruitment left the Dutchman turning once again to youngsters Guillermo Varela and Marcus Rashford in a contest which has always been about giants of the game at the peak of their powers rather than callow kids with nothing more than raw promise.

To that end, Van Gaal restored a fit-again Marouane Fellaini to the starting line-up for the first time in over a month, simply to add brawn and muscle to an otherwise timid team. But for all of Fellaini's nuisance qualities, he is no creator and United lacked the cutting edge and guile to trouble Liverpool in a first half which was dominated by the home side.

Rashford's volley over the bar at the Kop end from Memphis Depay's cross after just 14 seconds was as close as United came in the opening period.

At the other end Liverpool were left to curse De Gea for keeping the score down after Daniel Sturridge's 19th-minute penalty opener.

Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo took his time before pointing to the spot following Depay's tug on Nathaniel Clyne, but it was a soft penalty. Sturridge calmly beat De Gea to give Liverpool the lead.

The opener raised the decibel levels inside Anfield, with the home fans sensing the opportunity to urge their team to a crucial second. Liverpool poured forward and Sturridge picked out the unmarked Philippe Coutinho at the far post on 23 minutes, only for De Gea to smother the Brazilian's close-range shot.

Then on 31 minutes a slip by Chris Smalling gifted Sturridge a chance to score his second. Once again De Gea came to United's rescue, as he did when producing a point-blank save from Adam Lallana four minutes before half-time.

United's season has been disappointing enough with the Spaniard in their ranks, so it does not bear thinking about how badly it may have turned out had his aborted move to Real Madrid gone through last summer.

With United finding it so difficult to threaten Liverpool, Van Gaal reverted to 3-5-2 at the start of the second period, withdrawing Rashford and installing Carrick at centre-half. Daley Blind moved to left wing-back, with Marcos Rojo occupying the left side of the back three, a move which gave United more purpose down that side of the pitch.

But Liverpool were able to keep United away from Simon Mignolet's goal, with Morgan Schneiderlin's 20-yard effort - saved by the Belgian keeper - the best of their early chances.

Liverpool continued to play with greater efficiency going forward and United were indebted to De Gea yet again on 55 minutes when he produced a fingertip save to push Coutinho's powerful strike from long range over the crossbar.

United attempted to wear Liverpool down with their possession game, but while it gave them greater control of the centre of the pitch, Mignolet continued to watch on largely untroubled, only needing to race off his line to punch a Varela cross away from the head of Anthony Martial.

De Gea was at least proving his worth, if many of his team-mates were not. The Spaniard palmed away a swerving Clyne shot on 66 minutes as Liverpool turned the screw, but his resistance was finally broken on 74 minutes by Firmino.

Carrick's heavy first touch from Jordan Henderson's cross saw the ball bounce to Lallana and the England midfielder picked out Firmino, who scored form six yards.

It was no more than Liverpool deserved and Anfield exploded in celebration, and probably a realisation that this United team will not be able to turn it around at Old Trafford. (© Independent News Service)