‘I’m a centre forward, not a winger’. Sturridge unhappy with wide role

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has revealed his unhappiness at being forced to play in a wide position by Jurgen Klopp.

Sturridge was selected on the right for last weekend’s clash with Burnley and was substituted on 65 minutes after failing to make an impact in the 2-0 defeat.

He came off the bench in Tuesday’s 5-0 EFL Cup second-round victory at Burton and was again deployed on the right.

But, despite scoring twice, the 26-year-old admits he is feeling frustrated at not being selected to play in a central striking role.

“Of course it is more difficult for me to play wide. I’m a centre-forward,” England international Sturridge said, quoted by several national newspapers.

“In the modern-day game you have to try and be flexible, but everyone knows my best position.

“Everyone knows where I enjoy playing the most. I’m a player who plays on instinct, and in the middle I have clarity on movements and things that I have been doing for years. I am on autopilot there. You just do things because you are used to doing it. But when you are out wide, you have got to worry about different things.

“I have to do a job for the team. That’s not saying I am happy to do it. That’s saying I have got to do a job for the team. It’s a team game. If I am put in that position, I have to play there.”