02 Feb 2015 19:22:33
Just saw that BBC said Suarez best January buy- Do you think any part of him is now regretting the move to Barcelona. Clearly the footballing side ain't working too well. I actually think Studge was the best.
02 Feb 2015 19:57:20
I still think Suarez is better on his day, however I also think Sturridge isn't too far off his level mate. Considering Suarez is 3 years older, Sturridge really isn't as far behind him as people think. Although Suarez has the advantage of almost never getting injured whereas Sturridge? Less said the better.
Looking it it sensibly though, yes Suarez outscored Sturridge last year, but he did it in more game time and nearly 2 thirds of his 31 goal haul came against teams in something like the bottom 4/5 teams. He was a flat track bully who hammered teams like West Brom, Norwich, Cardiff, Sunderland etc. Sturridge on the other hand rarely ever scores more than 1 or 2 goals a game, but scores consistently against all calibre of opposition. His goals were actually worth more points last season than Suarez's because of this. Sturridge also creates more than he is given credit for. He sets up just under half as many as Suarez does. The main advantage Suarez had in this department was his uncanny ability to draw fouls in and around the penalty area which massively skewed his assist stats with some statisticians.
So whilst I'd still say Suarez's creative spark and lack of injuries makes him the better overall player, I hands down believe Sturridge is the better goal scorer purely because of his consistency and because he can score against big teams regularly. He also doesn't bite or racially abuse people but that's another debate I don't care to go into!
It's sad thinking about this all really because they truly were the best strike partnership ever in my opinion and whilst I'm pleased to no longer be associated with the dark side of Luis, I don't half miss watching him and Sturridge tear teams to pieces :(
If you were playing against liverpool last year would you try harder to shut down and not get done up by suarez or studge. Suarez' ability and fear factor gave studge more freedom
Sturridge scored at a slightly higher rate without Suarez on the pitch, so not sure of your point really Miltown.
Sturridge has 13 goals in 14 appearances without Suarez and 24 goals in 39 with Suarez. But nice try Miltown red ;)
Suarez's greed from silly positions, and tendancy to concede possession actually took chances away from Sturridge. Danny is very obviously better without Suarez. In fact, his only Hattrick in a Liverpool shirt came against Fulham and guess who was banned for biting Ivanovic for that particular game?
Suarez is probably the best player i have seen in my lifetime for liverpool in terms of ability, the definition of a world class player.
However the way sturridge has played since joining us, i don't think many people appreciate how good this guy is. His finishing is absolutely deadly, his left foot is an absolute wand, his skill and touch and forward play is a joy to watch. Always involved in every attack, always carries the ball forward with his grace and skill. His positioning is also second to none, as you will see when we start laying him up front as opposed to borini, lambert or balotelli. Did i also mention he is lightning quick?
I honestly don't think we could have got a better striker for us than sturridge. When the team finally gets sorted out, i feel that with the rest of our attacking options he will absolutely murder teams with coutinho, sterling and lallana. If he carries on like this, he will probably be better than torres and not far behind suarez in terms of our greatest forwards.
Suarez work rate was off the scale. The amount of closing down he did for the team cannot be under estimated. I don't believe any player would suffer as a result of him being in their side.
Facts don't lie Higgins. Sturridge averages nearly a goal a game without Suarez and nearly as low as a goal every two games when Suarez plays. Hard to believe, but facts cannot be denied.
Completely agree Woolback mate. Sturridge is criminally under rated.
''In fact, his only Hattrick in a Liverpool shirt came against Fulham and guess who was banned for biting Ivanovic for that particular game?''
Only cus he ballooned a penalty
Sturridge always looks like he's going to score, getting off the mark like that immediately at West Ham gives everyone around him a lift as they know if they get it to him early or in the right place, he'll score.
Suarez couldn't take penalties either Bob. It's a different skill to goal scoring in open play. Most people don't even count hattricks that included penalties as true hattricks. Certainly people who believe Messi>Ronaldo don't.
You are correct though, that would've been his second hattrick had he scored it, but he didn't. That is no reflection on his ability to score goals without Suarez though so it's virtually irrelevant to this discussion. A fair point none the less.
Regardless of the stats and nothing taken away from sturridge but suarez was magic. Sturridge is amazing himself and a great finisher but suarez is a different level. To each his own tho
03 Feb 2015 08:09:55
Suarez was the better player, all round and goalscorer. Sturridge was the better January buy, because he was considered an early failure who wasn't going to his potential by the footballing world at large and almost single handedly rescued our season from a bottom half finish that year, which is where we were sliding whilst we could barely hit the target. Suarez was a restructure and bought for big money - Sturridge was a cheapish season changer
''Most people don't even count hattricks that included penalties as true hattricks''
Come off it. MOST
Bob, you're missing my point. Sturridge missing a penalty for a hattrick doesn't prove in anyway that he plays better alongside Suarez. Stop looking for a fight.