Adam Lallana: Fit Daniel Sturridge is like having two new Liverpool signings

Chris Bascombe in Munich 30 July 2017 • 10:30pm

Amid the clamour for Liverpool to join the transfer window madness, Adam Lallana is backing a more familiar face to have a defining impact on the season.

Lallana predicts a ‘massive’ year for Daniel Sturridge who has looked fitter, sharper and as hungry as ever during the warm-up games. Most significantly, the England striker has featured in all Jurgen Klopp’s energy-sapping sessions – the Liverpool manager had his players train three times in a day before their latest tour win on Saturday.

“Listen, Studge has been absolutely brilliant in pre-season so far. You couldn’t put a price on him,” said Lallana, noting the extravagant fees and valuations elsewhere and purring at what Sturridge’s finishing is worth.

“He is a world class player. He has come back from the summer looking absolutely brilliant, so fit. He is going to be a massive player for us this season. I can feel it.

“He is looking really sharp and to have him firing on all cylinders would be like having two new signings if we can keep on the pitch and get him scoring goals.”

Daniel Sturridge — Sturridge has had a lot of injury problems over the years Credit: Getty images

It was another former Chelsea striker, Dominic Solanke, who caught the attention with a goal and assist in Liverpool’s latest victory – a 3-0 win over Hertha Berlin on Saturday – with Mohamed Salah once more underlining his value with a goal.

Sturridge’s vital contribution at the end of last season underlined why Liverpool did not invite offers during the summer, and his extraordinary strike rate proves if he played a full season he would score at least 20 goals.

“Every footballer gets injuries – Jordan Henderson has had a tough couple of years,” said Lallana.

“We all have to deal with it at some stage in our career. But we have got plenty of options and if we keep everyone fit, who knows what can happen?

Adam Lallana — Lallana during Liverpool's 3-0 win over Hertha Berlin on Saturday Credit: Getty images

“It’s not major surgery we need. It’s little tweaks. We are looking good at the minute. Philippe (Coutinho) can play in different positions; he can play central and out wide. Sadio can play on the left or the right. It’s similar to me, I used to play out wide and I now play more central.”

Liverpool are still keen to add to their squad and for all their attacking quality – when they have clicked they looked destructive in their friendlies so far – deficiencies in defence have also been apparent.

Klopp’s current issues extend to full-back, with Nathaniel Clyne not expected to be fit for the start of the season due to a hamstring and back injury.

Despite recognising how reinforcements will threaten the idea of anyone being a certain starter as Klopp seeks to rotate far more, Lallana recognises the need to add more quality.

“I want the best players to be linked with Liverpool and coming to Liverpool,” he said.

“If you are talking about it from a personal point of view, the pressure to get better and the competition for places is healthy. That is what we need. At times last year, our bench probably wasn’t as strong as we would have liked it to be. If we are going to achieve something, we are going to need a strong bench. We need a strong squad and players need to be on their toes. It is all good.

“There are 30 players out here with the three goalkeepers and a few young lads. That is a hell of a lot of players. You only have to look at the substitution that the manager can make. He is now replacing pace with pace and goals with goals.”

Liverpool will have tougher tests this week when they play in the four team Audi Cup alongside Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Napoli.

“There are bits that we probably need to work at; we have still got a couple of weeks left and it has been good out here in Germany,” said Lallana.

“We had a lot of commercial stuff to do in Hong Kong this time. In Germany this has just been strictly football and that is what you want. There are commercial demands and other parts that you have got to do but we are here to play football and we are fully focused on it. I’m sure it is great for the manager to get to spend 24 hours a day with us.”

“We had some tough days training - physically it was very demanding - but that is pre-season. It isn’t meant to be easy.”