Rio Ferdinand has urged Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge to follow Pedro’s example as he looks to return to being the main man for the Reds.
The England international has had injury issues since Jurgen Klopp arrived at the club but even when fit, he is behind Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi.
Although Sturridge has made 20 appearances for the Reds in all competitions this season, he’s only scored six goals and he wasn’t brought onto the pitch until the 65th during Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers and by that time the hosts were 2-0 down.
Ferdinand wrote in his Times column: “He’ll stand there, as he did a few days ago, and say his goal ratio is great, but teams need players they can rely on every week. I look at him, sitting there as Liverpool’s third-choice striker, not even coming on as substitute half the time, and his abilities are so much greater than that. This is his moment, his time to grab it.
Top players don’t want to tell you about their stats. I hate it. Don’t talk, I don’t care. Just go and do it. ‘My goal ratio is…’ I’m afraid talk can sound like weakness, like you’re making excuses. The top forwards I played with — Ronaldo, Rooney, Van Nistelrooy — just spoke in performances and goals.
“Sturridge needs look no further than across the tunnel at the Chelsea side to see an example he should follow: Pedro.”
The former defender is referring to Pedro taking the risk and leaving Barcelona for England and Chelsea in 2015 after finding his game time limited, following the signings of Luis Suarez and Neymar.
At the moment the situation hasn’t affected the 27-year-old’s England career but with Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott recently returning to fitness; as well as Wayne Rooney, Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane competing for spots his lack of first-team action may leave him the odd man out ahead of the next round of qualifiers in March.
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