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John Aldridge: Liverpool must replace 27-year-old in the summer
By Dominic Toner
John Aldridge believe that Liverpool need to purchase a prolific goalscorer in the summer transfer window as Daniel Sturridge is not starting on a regular basis.
The 27-year-old has proved during his time with the Merseyside club that he is deadly in front of goal, scoring 60 goals in 113 appearances.
However, the England international has been unable to fully impress manager Jurgen Klopp and is not considered a guaranteed starter anymore.
The German boss has preferred an interchangeable frontline of attackers Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane for the majority of the season, with advanced midfielder Adam Lallana also chipping in with some goals.
Ex-Reds striker Aldridge claims it’s essential the club sign a recognised goalscorer to lead the line and they must look elsewhere if Sturridge is not going to start matches.
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“We need an out-and-out goalscorer. When we had four players all scoring it was great but you need your match-winner up front” Aldridge wrote on his Echo column. ” I think we’ve got to find one. Daniel Sturridge is not going to do it because the manager is not playing him.”
Sturridge has been an important player for Liverpool since he joined in 2013 from Chelsea, but has struggled to cement his position this season.
The striker has managed six goals in 21 appearances this campaign, with just two of them coming in the Premier League against Stoke and Sunderland respectively.
He has been used mainly as a substitute by Klopp in the league fixtures and has looked to impress in the cup competitions.
Liverpool were on course for a fantastic season at the close of 2016, but the New Year has seen them endure a terrible run of results.
The Reds have tasted victory in just one of their 10 games across all competitions and were knocked out of both the EFL and FA Cup, while their league title aspirations were obliterated as they slipped 13 points behind runaway leaders Chelsea.
Sturridge has been unable to force his way into the starting XI despite some poor performances and his future at the club has been cast into serious doubt.
In other Liverpool news, Tony Cascarino believes they should have signed an England international in the summer.
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