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Liverpool August squad rankings: Sturridge falls, Mane rises

By Tom Bogert

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 14: Sadio Mane of Liverpool and team mates celebrate his goal with Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on August 14, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 14: Sadio Mane of Liverpool and team mates celebrate his goal with Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on August 14, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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BURTON UPON TRENT, ENGLAND – AUGUST 23: Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool shoots at goal during the EFL Cup second round match between Burton Albion and Liverpool at Pirelli Stadium on August 23, 2016 in Burton upon Trent, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
BURTON UPON TRENT, ENGLAND – AUGUST 23: Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool shoots at goal during the EFL Cup second round match between Burton Albion and Liverpool at Pirelli Stadium on August 23, 2016 in Burton upon Trent, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /

11. Daniel Sturridge (down eight places)

August hasn’t been too kind to Sturridge, maybe his birthday month of September will be a bit more charitable. #SeptembersVeryOwn

Sturridge would’ve figured to, well, figure more for Klopp’s Liverpool. He made just one start in those four games and it came in the one loss to Burnley.

Poor Sturridge didn’t have much of a chance that day.

After they gifted Burnley a lead within two minutes, it was always going to be difficult for a striker to play alone against two banks of four backed down to their box. They only times he really had a chance to even touch the ball, let alone have a little bit of space is when he’d drop closer to the midfield stripe to remind the commentators that he was actually playing and not off injured elsewhere.

The striker did score two goals in one start and a couple of substitute appearances: a double against Burton off the bench in the 5-0 thrashing of the Championship side.

With Klopp fancying a 4-3-3 rather than a 4-2-3-1 to begin the season, Sturridge faces a tough outlook on preferred playing time. Klopp continues to toss Roberto Firmino at center forward and pushes Sturridge wide, if in the team at all. With Can’s return to the lineup, maybe Liverpool can revert to the successful 4-2-3-1 and drop Firmino into the no. 10 and allow Sturridge– a borderline world class center forward– to play center forward.

Next: 10. Ragnar Klavan

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