Rodgers: We've missed Sturridge
Rodgers: We've missed Sturridge
Posted Monday, September 28, 2015 by Foxsports.com
Under-fire Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admits his side suffered in the absence of Daniel Sturridge, whose brace helped secure a 3-2 win over Aston Villa.
The England international missed the majority or last season and the start of the new campaign through injury, but made his long-awaited comeback against Norwich a week ago.
Sturridge was back in the starting line-up for the visit of Villa on Saturday and got off the mark in 2015/16 with his double, adding to James Milner's second-minute opener at Anfield.
Rudy Gestede made for a nervy finish with his two-goal haul in the space of five minutes, but the Merseysiders held on for only their second victory of the season.
Rodgers hailed the contribution of the Villa youth product and his understanding with new signing Danny Ings as the goals started flowing once again.
"It was a really good performance in terms of the creativity and effort the players put into the game. I thought they were absolutely outstanding," the Ulsterman said in his post-match interview.
"It was a really good win for us. The last time we scored three goals was when [Sturridge] started the game against Tottenham here.
"If you're going to compete at the top of the table, you need to have big quality and we have got some very good players here.
"But Daniel Sturridge has shown over his time here that he is a really top talent. And when you miss that type of quality out of your team, you can suffer for it.
"I thought he was outstanding today. He is probably disappointed he didn't have a hat-trick, but his overall game and touch and two finishes were outstanding.
"And he showed a great combination with young Danny Ings, who obviously didn't get a goal today but I thought he played his part up top with Daniel.
"They showed that understanding that good players do. Both can run in behind, both can come short and they pressed the game well. It was very good."
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