The 25-year-old pulled up with a thigh strain at Melwood on Tuesday and is now unavailable to face Crystal Palace, though the extent of the problem has not been disclosed
By Liam Twomey
Liverpool have confirmed that Daniel Sturridge has suffered another thigh strain in training and is now unavailable for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.
As reported by Goal, Sturridge pulled up during a session at Melwood on Tuesday and it is believed the injury is similar in nature to the thigh problem that originally sidelined him while on England duty in early September.
The precise extent of the new problem has not been elaborated on and the 25-year-old will be assessed by Liverpool’s medical staff in the coming days, but the striker has been ruled out of contention to face Palace.
“Liverpool Football Club today confirmed scans have revealed Daniel Sturridge has sustained a new thigh injury,” a club statement read.
“The player will remain unavailable for selection but will be monitored and assessed during his recovery.”
Sturridge has not featured for Liverpool since starring in a 3-0 evisceration of Tottenham at White Hart Lane on August 31 and Brendan Rodgers’ men have won just four of 14 matches in all competitions in his absence, with summer signing Mario Balotelli scoring just twice.
The Reds lie 11th in the Premier League after 11 matches, four points off West Ham in fourth, and it now appears that Rodgers will again have to do without the man who scored 21 Premier League goals last season despite missing a significant chunk of the campaign with an ankle injury.
Sturridge had been progressing well in training while recovering from an unrelated calf problem, and as recently as November 12 took to Twitter to reassure fans that he would soon return to the field.
P.s training was class. Happy to be back. Thank you Jesus.
— Daniel Sturridge (@D_Sturridge) November 12, 2014
The 25-year-old has been beset by injuries since arriving at Anfield in a £12 million deal from Chelsea in January 2013, and last month suggested his genes and body type might be to blame for his persistent muscular problems.
“I’ve been unfortunate this season to pick up injuries. Maybe it’s my body type and hereditary,” he told TalkSPORT.
“My uncle Dean had a lot of muscle problems when he played, uncle Simon the same, and my dad. Maybe it’s the Caribbean vibes. [I have] fast-twitch muscles, I am more vulnerable to muscle injuries.”