Carragher hails Sturridge's instant impact since joining Liverpool

Jan 21, 2013 10:15:00 AM

The veteran believes the Reds attack will benefit from another goalscorer to relieve the pressure on Luis Suarez and allow the Uruguayan to take up a deeper role

Liverpool veteran Jamie Carragher has hailed Daniel Sturridge’s immediate impact at the club, following goals in each of his opening three games.

Brendan Rodgers acquired the 23-year-old from Chelsea for £12 million, and has since seen him net against Mansfield Town, Manchester United and Norwich City.

And Carragher believes the former Chelsea and Manchester City striker has raised the quality of the team’s attacking threat and will relieve the pressure on fellow forward Luis Suarez.


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Carragher told reporters: "You can't expect a striker to score every week but he has started well and it looks like a good decision to bring him in. When he came in it gives everyone a lift and raises standards all around. The other strikers have to up their game to try to displace him and get in the team.

"He has got three in three games so he's made a great start and he's lived up to the expectation so far. That's an important thing for a striker but it is not just about goals - he's got great movement and gives us more pace and strength up there.

"Sturridge has a presence about him and has linked up well with Luis playing the slightly deeper role. Luis' goalscoring record is one of the top in the league, so if he is your main striker he is doing his job.

"It then needs other people to chip in from deeper areas, but with Luis playing in a deeper area you still expect him to get goals. With Daniel up top he is going to get goals as well. No matter where Luis plays he is a world-class player but it was nice to have an extra body up there."

Liverpool have won their last three matches at Anfield, scoring 12 goals without reply in the process, but upcoming away games against Arsenal and Manchester City loom large in the near future.

And Carragher is hoping the momentum from the club’s improved home form can be carried into the clashes against the champions and Gunners.

He added: "The manager mentioned before the game if we won we would have won the same number of matches [six] at home as last season. That shows you we didn't do well enough at home last year.

"We want to keep that run going at home but we've got three tough away games coming up so we need to take our home form into those."

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