Daniel Sturridge is looking to reach a scoring statistic he would have envisioned surpassing well in advance of Monday night’s clash with Crystal Palace.
The Liverpool striker’s injury setbacks over the years have been a cruel hindrance to undeniable talent and potential to become one of the Premier League’s deadliest goal scorers.
After his determined resurgence in pre-season, Sturridge is now vying for a valuable role as the Reds strive to mount a serious title challenge.
A goal just 24 seconds after coming on against West Ham on opening weekend marked an ideal start and has now put Sturridge in reach of a 50% scoring record.
Five years after signing from Chelsea, he is just one goal short of 50 and one appearance short of 100 in the league for the club, as noted by Liverpoolfc.com.
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Sturridge is unlikely to start against Palace at Selhurst but will be considered as a game-changing option from the bench for Jurgen Klopp.
The Englishman scored six times in nine games across pre-season to overshadow Divock Origi and Dominic Solanke’s efforts to push for first-team involvement at Liverpool this season.
His performances didn’t just provide a refreshing reminder of his final-third conviction, but also displayed a widely-missed sharpness and unpredictability to his game.
Liverpool’s summer preparations also supplied a fascinating insight into a new licence for Sturridge to roam deeper and serve as a creator alongside his scoring duties.
Goal figures aside, a win will be the uncontested priority tonight as Liverpool meet a Palace side that have not lost in the league since defeat to Klopp’s men back in March.