Liverpool legend Ray Houghton believes it will be very difficult to keep Daniel Sturridge out of the Reds’ starting line-up if he continues to bang in goals.
The striker, who has been sparingly used by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in the present campaign, netted a brace to help his side beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.
Sturridge has thus far made just nine appearances in all competitions for Liverpool this season, scoring four times, with all of his goals coming in the EFL Cup.
But Houghton thinks Liverpool should utilise Sturridge more frequently if he is scoring goals as the England international possesses the ability to change the complexion of tight games, a rare quality.
“If Liverpool are in a tight game, and they’ve been for the last few matches, and you had one chance and you had one player for it to fall to, I would choose Sturridge personally”, he explained to LFC TV after the game.
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“He had eight attempts at goal tonight, he hit the target six times, he’s not missing by much, he’s in the right areas, he’s hitting the target, he’s making the goalkeeper work.
"He was very unfortunate not to get his hat-trick tonight.
“I think he’s confident player, when he’s doing well and putting the ball into the back of the net, I think it’s very difficult to leave him out because he can do something on the pitch that some other players can’t.”
Sturridge, who has so far amassed 101 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 58 times, also has 24 caps and seven goals for England to his name.
The 27-year-old counts Manchester City and Chelsea amongst his former employers.
