Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge said his spectacular goal in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Saturday was probably one of the best of his career.
Sturridge salvaged Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the Premier League with a long-range effort beyond the reach of Kepa Arrizabalaga, the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, in the 89th minute.
The striker was introduced as a substitute four minutes from time at Stamford Bridge, with his equaliser cancelling Eden Hazard’s first-half opener.
“It was a good goal, the boys worked tirelessly all game,” Sturridge told BT Sport postmatch. “We created a lot of chances in the first half and we were unlucky not to score in the first half. But it was a nice goal at the end for myself.
“I’d like to think [I’ve scored better goals], but probably not. This one was a nice goal. As I said, it was just about getting the result.
“It’s a team game and I just give my best [in] any minutes I get. It’s just important to keep pushing forward, having a positive outlook on everything going on and it’s been good far.”
Sturridge is now Liverpool’s joint-top goalscorer for the season, alongside Sadio Mane, with four goals in seven appearances.
Jurgen Klopp believes the 29-year-old is in the best physical shape during his career at Anfield.
“Three days ago he had a similar situation and hit the crossbar,” Klopp said at his postmatch news conference. “He reminded nobody [of his talent] then, obviously.
“He’s fantastic football player, he had a full preseason and he’s in the best shape since I’ve known him. It’s as easy as that.
“It’s really cool, I’m really happy for him. He works hard, he’s just a good lad. When he came in the dressing room after 20 minutes or so, it was pretty loud. The boys were all happy for him. He really is in a good moment.”
The draw at Chelsea extended Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season to seven matches, although Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion sees them move to the top of the table on goal difference.
Klopp feels his side should have walked away from London with three points instead of one, having had numerous clear-cut chances through the match.
“We deserved to win,” he continued. “It’s all good with the result. Both teams deserve a point, we only had more chances, like we did on Wednesday.
“But Chelsea is a super team and it is quite difficult to play them, but I thought we did it in a really impressive way, to be honest.
“Today I saw a really good performance from my side in a difficult game after we’d lost on Wednesday against them.
“We gave them one proper chance, they used it and we didn’t use ours. That’s how life is. But as long as we create chances like we did tonight, we will win football games.”
Klopp also attempted to downplay Mohamed Salah’s withdrawal after 66 minutes, with Xherdan Shaqiri replacing the Egypt international, who squandered a number of good opportunities during his return to Chelsea.
“It was tactical, he was not injured,” he said. “It was not Mo’s best game of his career, 100 percent.
“But coming in a game like this, constantly in situations like he comes in, that makes a world-class player. You fail, you miss, whatever, that happens. No problem with that.
“But I want him so that he wants to be decisive, to score in these situations. You could see the first ball he missed a bit it was not in the right position, and the next ball he passed! Why? He could have shot.
“It’s like riding a bike. It’s not that you wake up in the morning and you can’t finish and you can’t ride a bike any more. That’s how it is. You need to work for these moments when it’s clicking. That’s the period he’s in, no problem with that.”
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