The Transfer Market has re-opened and action has already started. With first Big move coming from English Premier League side Liverpool.
Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool:
The English International signed a long term contract at Melwood on Wednesday and has expressed his desire to stay at Anfield for long.
Liverpool have signed Sturridge for an undisclosed transfer fee, believed to be £12 million.
Liverpool overpaid for an unproven striker but then in a long term prospective, he might prove people wrong.
The 23 year old has become Liverpool's 4th signing under Brendon Rodgers. It is believed that Sturridge took a pay cut to join Liverpool.
Significance of signing:
Liverpool have struggled in scoring goals, although Suarez has been among the top scorers there is no other significant scorer for Liverpool. Borini's early injury left Liverpool with only one senior Striker.
This season liverpool have scored 31 goals with a conversion rate of 8.6%, an average goal conversion rate for a midtable team has been around 12% and average goal conversion rate for top table team is 15%
Liverpool has 3rd lowest conversion rate in EPL so it is obvious liverpool needed a Clinical striker.
Sturridge hasn't been a regular at chelsea yet last season he was the top scorer for chelsea in the League. Sturridge has mostly played as a Second Striker or as a winger for Chelsea.
If u look at the stats, he had a prolific run at Bolton where he scored 8 goals in 12 matches.
Though if u look at his stats at chelsea and manchester city it may not be convincing.
But out of 84 matches that he has played for played for city and chelsea he has only started in 39 matches.
His conversion rate per goal is 13% which is way higher than suarez who has a goal conversion rate of 8%.
Where Does he fit in the team???
Suarez seems to enjoy the role of false nine, and Rodgers doesn't seem to change that for now, Sturridge is likely to play the role of wide forward, though he has expressed he is intrested in playing as central striker but in Rodger's fluid game play he will have many chances to play central striker role as he can interchange position's with Suarez.
Style of play:
Sturridge isn't typical English striker such as Andy Carroll, Rooney , Defoe etc. He is a pacy striker, and has quite good skills, dribbles the ball a lot, etc. He has an eye for goal and is calm in front of goal, he is a versatile striker, plays well on wings too, and has got the strength to handle EPL defenders.
At times he has been very mean in front of goal. If he wants to play at Liverpool under Rodgers he needs to improve on this particular attribute , another thing he needs to improve is decision making.
Verdict
This move won't do wonders but will solve Liverpool's striking problem a bit with suarez having a partner, it will take the burden of scoring goals off from suarez, though liverpool still need lot of reinforcements. Though this deal seems to be more of long term solution, if Sturridge hit's his bolton form then it will change the season for liverpool. However, some people may still say that Rodgers played a gamble.
Hopefully this is the start of more signings for liverpool in january
Sturridge All goals 2011/2012
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