Liverpool opened up the post-Luis Suarez era at Anfield by beating Southampton 2-1 in their Premier League opener on Sunday.
We saw a solid defensive displays from the Reds but going forward they seemed to be missing the spark Suarez provided so often last season before his summer move to Barcelona.
[RELATED: Liverpool 2-1 Southampton]
His former striker partner Daniel Sturridge, who formed the incredible S.A.S. partnership last campaign, scored on the opening day and will carry the burden of being Liverpool’s main goalscoring threat this season.
Without Suarez, Sturridge is the main man at Anfield and when asked by reporters on Sunday if the Reds can cope without their former Uruguyan superstar, Sturridge was adamant the team is now stronger without him.
Our friends at Soccerly have the details, as Sturridge brushed aside the importance of having Suarez at Anfield.The 27-year-old Suarez led the Premier League with 31 goals in 2013/14 and was named the league’s player of the year. Sturridge banged in 21 goals as his partner even though he missed eight games due to injury.
When Sky Sports asked Sturridge if Liverpool was a stronger club without his old partner Suarez, he replied, “I think so, with the players we have brought in. No disrespect to Luis, he’s a great player and he’ll be missed, but we move on from that. We have shown we can win games, score goals and defend as well. But with the little man Sterling and the other players producing the goods, we’ll be okay.’’
The 24-year-old Sturridge said it’s important that the squad scores enough goals to win games, but they also have to defend well if they’re going to challenge for the title. He remarked that he has a good relationship with the 19-year-old Sterling and the new players as they joke and laugh with each other during training. However, he added that they also verbally abuse each other in a good-natured way at times as a way to bring out the best in each other.Follow @JPW_NBCSports