Liverpool beat West Ham 2-0 in a game that saw Daniel Sturridge make his return off the bench and feature for the Reds for the first time in five months, and get on the score-sheet almost instantly
The England international just needed just 12 minutes to show the Liverpool fans exactly what they have been missing as he latched on to a pass from Philippe Coutinho and put it in the back of the net to double the Reds’ lead after Raheem Sterling scored the first Liverpool goal.
Brendan Rodgers made just one change from the mid-week game at Stamford Bridge with Adam Lallana returning to the side in place of Steven Gerrard, who was not even on the bench. Mamadou Sakho was passed fit and started for the home side, putting on yet another impressive performance.
Daniel Sturridge was understandably beaming after the game and said, “It’s a team game and I am happy the team won. It’s just good to be back. As I said, it is about the team’s performances and us winning games. I have been watching on the sidelines and the lads have been playing really well but sometimes the results have not been going their way, but we have been working hard doing what the manager wants us to do.”
Manager Brendan Rodgers also praised Sturridge, but felt that his entire team deserved credit for the win.
“Daniel Sturridge is a top class player, he has shown that in his career so far. He worked very hard and the first opportunity that came his way he took. It was a wonderful pass by Philippe Coutinho,” said the Northern Irishman
“We were obviously disappointed in midweek with the result at Chelsea in the Capital One Cup. We knew coming into today it was going be a tough game. West Ham have done great this season, but we had to win the battle and compete, fight and press. My players did that magnificently well. Maybe we could have had more than two goals.”
