Daniel Sturridge is ready to achieve “something special” with Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp and insists he has never planned on leaving the club.
The England striker responded with a match-winning contribution, playing a role in all three Liverpool goals. Scoring his fifth goal in seven games on Thursday night as the Reds booked their place in the Europa League final against Villarreal.
“I’m happy,” said Sturridge. “I have never expressed not being happy here. I think it is everyone playing devil’s advocate.
“They see that I have been left out sometimes and they think, ‘Maybe that means he is unhappy’, but the manager has got a job to do. He has got to pick the team that he feels is best on the day. And I have got a job to do, which is to perform when I am playing.
“I understand [the scrutiny]. I have been here more than three years. I am just happy to be playing. I have had the injuries and I have been in and out of the side in recent times, but it has never been the case that I am not happy at the club. I am grateful to the club for giving me the chance to come here from Chelsea. I am grateful to Brendan [Rodgers] for signing me.
After being handed a start in the semi-final second leg against Villarreal he rose to the occasion as he tormented the Spanish side’s backline.
The celebrations which followed his 52nd goal for Liverpool laid bare exactly what it meant to him.
“I think it was because it was such a big game for us,” he said.
“With the first chance I had I was like ‘how did that not go in?’ so I felt as if I had to make up for it and I am grateful to God that I was able to do that.
“It’s the biggest goal I’ve scored for Liverpool, but hopefully there will be a lot more bigger games and a lot more bigger goals to come in the future.
The striker’s confidence in his ability remains undimmed, though, and he feels as fit as ever, having put in extra hours as Liverpool’s season comes to a close and Euro 2016 with England looms large.
“It’s a few months since I have been back and I haven’t even had a day off,” Sturridge said. “I’m not even fronting.
“I actually haven’t had a day off. When the other boys have had days off, I have been in.
“It has just been extra stuff, whether I have been training or doing recovery work, I have been doing it.
“I am not trying to create a sob story. At the end of the day, we get paid to do this and this is my dream. I can’t complain. I’m just grateful to God for the opportunity to be here.”
Netting in the Europa League final against Sevilla on May 18 would likely better Thursday’s strike and victory in Basle may kick-start what Sturridge believes is an exciting future under Klopp.
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