Since returning from his recent injury, Daniel Sturridge has grabbed five goals and one assist in four games for LFC, which brings his overall total for the club to 27 goals/6 assists in 34 appearances. That is an absolutely fantastic return from Sturridge, and Jamie Carragher believes that the England striker is currently a better player than Manchester United star Wayne Rooney.
In his column for the Daily Mail today, Carra hailed Sturridge's 'faultless' consistency in the penalty area, adding:
"Wayne Rooney has been hailed for his excellent form this season and has scored nine goals in 18 Premier League games.
"Daniel's figures are even better, with 13 goals in 15 league appearances. If he continues in this vein, Liverpool will have an outstanding chance of finishing in the top four".
In my view, Sturridge is Brendan Rodgers' best signing, and 33 goals/assist in 34 games is simply stunning. That's a goal/assist every single game, and Sturridge scored a lot of those goals whilst not at full match-fitness.
To put this into context: In his first 34 games for Liverpool, Luis Suarez managed a comparatively meagre 11 goals and 7 assists, and unlike Sturridge, the Uruguayan played regular first team football for years before his Anfield move.
As for the Rooney comparison; there's no contest, IMO. £30m-rated Rooney may run more, and his defenders will wheel out the same old tired argument about his 'versatility', or how he can play in multiple positions, but despite his injury lay-offs, Sturridge is the superior goalscorer right now.
How does Sturridge compare to Suarez overall?
* Sturridge: 27 goals/6 assists in 34 apps.
* Goal every 1.2 games
* Goal/Assist every single game.
* Suarez: 74 goals/23 assists in 117 apps.
* Goal every 1.6 games.
* Goal/assist every 1.2 games.
Overall, Suarez is clearly the better player, but when it comes to specific, measurable creative return for Liverpool, Sturridge is, as a matter of unambiguous fact, is a slightly more effective striker than Suarez.
More importantly, both LFC's strikers are better than Rooney.
Author: Jaimie K
In his column for the Daily Mail today, Carra hailed Sturridge's 'faultless' consistency in the penalty area, adding:
"Wayne Rooney has been hailed for his excellent form this season and has scored nine goals in 18 Premier League games.
"Daniel's figures are even better, with 13 goals in 15 league appearances. If he continues in this vein, Liverpool will have an outstanding chance of finishing in the top four".
In my view, Sturridge is Brendan Rodgers' best signing, and 33 goals/assist in 34 games is simply stunning. That's a goal/assist every single game, and Sturridge scored a lot of those goals whilst not at full match-fitness.
To put this into context: In his first 34 games for Liverpool, Luis Suarez managed a comparatively meagre 11 goals and 7 assists, and unlike Sturridge, the Uruguayan played regular first team football for years before his Anfield move.
As for the Rooney comparison; there's no contest, IMO. £30m-rated Rooney may run more, and his defenders will wheel out the same old tired argument about his 'versatility', or how he can play in multiple positions, but despite his injury lay-offs, Sturridge is the superior goalscorer right now.
How does Sturridge compare to Suarez overall?
* Sturridge: 27 goals/6 assists in 34 apps.
* Goal every 1.2 games
* Goal/Assist every single game.
* Suarez: 74 goals/23 assists in 117 apps.
* Goal every 1.6 games.
* Goal/assist every 1.2 games.
Overall, Suarez is clearly the better player, but when it comes to specific, measurable creative return for Liverpool, Sturridge is, as a matter of unambiguous fact, is a slightly more effective striker than Suarez.
More importantly, both LFC's strikers are better than Rooney.
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Author: Jaimie K
as a United fan I hate to say it but Suarez is at least slightly better then Rooney
ReplyDeleteDS may be a more efficient goal scorer but Suarez has the best ability of all! Availability.
ReplyDeletein the end of the day im happy we have them both
We'd best wait til sturridge has played 117 games before we start throwing terms like "unambiguous" around
ReplyDeletei think by natural ability Daniel Sturridge is better than Wayne Rooney. Daniel Sturridge is the type of kid who grew up mad athletic, with raw pace and studied his game on stars such as Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry. hence why he is so skillful and can score magical goals. wheres as Rooney is the typical English striker who knows how to strike the ball with power and accuracy. throughout the whole of 2013 Daniel Sturridge has been a better player than Wayne Rooney and his stats prove it. so as of now, yes you could say Daniel Sturridge is better than Rooney. but Rooney has countless titles, and has been a goalscorer from the age of 16. his consistentsy is amazing. but Unless Sturridge stays with Liverpool he will never be able to achieve the career and stats Wayne Rooney achieved.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. More exceptions. Why is people have such a hard time with *anything * that doesn't lionise and deify Suarez, to the extent they need to defend his honour?
ReplyDeleteAt this time, it is factual to state that Sturridge scores goals on a more regular basis that Suarez. I even showed Suarez's first 34 games, which also proves this point.
My message to you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMzd40i8TfA
:-)
wait Jaimie you cant honestly compare Luis Suarez to Daniel Sturridge. Suarez has proved himself at World Cups, Copa America's, Premier League(BEST), Champions League and Dutch League. he became his countrys leading scorer at the age of 26. legend. he was a world class player much before he joined LFC. adapting was always going to be understandable due to language change whereas Sturridge was already english. Luis Suarez club career stats is 212 goals/69 assists in 347 games. international career is 39 goals in 71 games.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Sturridge club career stats are 65 goals/19 assists in 174 games. international career 2 goals in 9 games. Sturridge is top class but still has a long way to go as BR stated. Sturridge can prove he is the best player in world football at Liverpool. he has the CR7 ego and as fans we've all given him the platform to perform his skills on our iconic ground. hes repayed the faith, but its crucial he keeps working hard as we all know that is something Luis will always do, keep working hard.
Even the last paragraph isn't true, because you try to compare Sturridge under Rodgers playing with the likes of Suarez and Coutinho and Luis under Dalglish playing with the likes of Carroll, Downing and Adam prior to the arrival of Rodgers ....
ReplyDeleteSo, if you want a fair comparison, why you don't compare their stats this running season ...
I'm waiting ...
Based on the criteria picked by the author, yes, on average Sturridge has better stats.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I would like to see the numbers on clear cut chance creation, and chance creation, but don't have Opta access.
Assists depend on the pass receiver scoring, chance creation would give a clearer view of actual impact
My ranking is 1) Suarez, 2) Rooney, 3) Sturridge, how does author rank them?
Let me ask you a question: in 20 years, when both Suarez and Sturridge are retired, and they're being discussed on some sports show, and their respective stats flash up onscreen, what stats will appear?
ReplyDeleteThe answer is simple: goals and assists.
Will there be a separate column for chance-creation? No.
As for ranking. In terms of pure goalscoring, Sturridge is number 1 (IMO). For the whole package, and overall ability:
1. Suarez
2. Sturridge
3. Rooney
I'm not going to waste time on something so pointless. It's the age old excuses: when you disagree with stats, come up with endless exceptions until you get the result you want.
ReplyDeleteIf the stats above showed that Suarez had a better goals-per-game ratio, you wouldn't be posting about the respective quality of team-mates. You're only posting that because you don't like what the stats show. It's so transparent.
Personally this article is pointless right now. You made a good point yesterday about how fast LFC put BR infront of the cameras and he says how happy he is with the current squad! We all know that's bunch of BS!! Since the lost to Hull City he has been saying the squad is not big enough and how much we need help!! The question we all should be asking is How long did they know Kano was not coming to LFC and why they did not find go for Plan C???! Ian Ayre is using BR to calm the fans down. FSG and the Board knows that BR is on the good side of the fans especially since we are doing quiet well. BR is frustrating and everybody can see that. Ian Ayre should be removed from his post and let him do what he does best which bringing in sponsors.
ReplyDeleteeven if the stats favoured the granny shagger, sorry, i would back our man. biased??? oh yes!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAt this time, Suarez is on a run of 23 goals in 18 games, a superior run, and has a fine assist tally on top of that. You cant use terms like "at this time", while tempering your figures by including 3 year old stats against one player.
ReplyDeleteput it another way. What was sturridges career stats over the same time period (3 yrs). Now that would be a fairer comparison. You can only hold suarez' previous lean spells against him for so long
Don't get the ego bull crap constantly wheeled out. Does this sound like an egotistical man? Really?:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1g3TkZeP-g&feature=youtube_gdata_player
yeahhhh you said it Jaimie!
ReplyDeleteYou need to understand that you go out of your way to post stats that you think goes against the effectiveness of Suarez. It would be easy to spin these stats to paint a different picture but for some reason you are on your own little mission. On another note Carra didn't say Sturridge is better than Rooney.
ReplyDeleteFor Christ's sake redmen, pump WBA today! Great opportunity to pull further away from top 4 competition Utd and Spurs, who both dropped points. 9 in front of Utd would give a handy cushion.
ReplyDeleteIt's a moot argument I think. I think both Sturridge and Suarez are benefiting from a type of football that is allowing a lot of creative output whereas Suarez has been at the club longer and under different management. I know it is a cliche but a goal is scored by a team. Personally I am made up those two are part of that team.
ReplyDeleteThe clear implication is that Sturridge is a better goalscorer that Rooney. If his goal rate is better, he is a better goalscorer. Continue your pedantry, though, by all means :-)
ReplyDeleteWell, assists used not to be talked about when I was a kid. So, I'm not sure what will be referenced in years to come, but I concede that by current standards the man in the street won't quote chance creation.
ReplyDeleteBut you can be sure that these stats are looked at on Opta by scouts / managers etc right now and should be referenced more widely as it is a simple way of further defining the ability of players
Remember when Arsenal were hammered by Man Utd, 8-2 i think, Young got 2 assists when he merely tapped his foot on a free kick, for Rooney to curl beyond keeper. I had both players in Fantasy Football so was chuffed but rivals were a little miffed :) Did these assists tell us anything about Young's ability? Not really
Overall coverage of soccer is very basic when one compares coverage of American sports. I know that there are fundamental differences in the sports but the level of constant expertise in American coverage often far outstrips soccer coverage. The man in the street is not encouraged to become a student of the game. Everyone seems blissfully ignorant of impact of tactics and formations. Empty cliches rule
I have some ideas, and I work for BT, so I might email someone in BT Sport with my ideas :)
I really do find it shocking that you rank Sturridge ahead of Rooney though. Based on 40 odd games for Sturridge in Premier League vs Rooney's brilliant career
I know Rooney is guilty of some costly petulance and shameful simulation at times, but he is one of my favourite players of my adult life
Simply a must-win.
ReplyDeleteCome on Jaimie your a smart fella you know stats alone mean nothing. Context is very important. I would say they are two if the best in the prem but on current form Suarez is one of the best in the world. Like Rodgers has said a few times though Sturridge can be world class with a bit of work.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely interesting stats though.
I'll admit it - I despise Rooney so that probably has some bearing on my ranking :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree overall re your points on chance-creation; it is an important stat. And you should definitely get on to BT sport with your ideas. You've got nothing to lose.
You should hate ROONEY... he's a backward Jimmy Saville.
ReplyDeleteThat is the difficulty with stats though mate. If you are gong to make direct comparisons then you need need similar numbers and circumstance so there is less variation in those stats. We could compare Suarez first period (same number as Sturridge) of games for LFC and compare. I am sure that Sturridge's are better. But then the circumstances were not the same. So we could use the period that Sturridge has been at the club as a marker and then compare the stats of the players. That is a much fairer comparison as the time frame is the same and (largely) the circumstance is the same. Or we could use stats since Suarez came to England and in those 117 appearances and compare that to Sturridge at different clubs. Surely that is just as fair as a comparison to a player who has played under two different managers and with what was with different players. Obviously not as many different players as a different team but at least we have similar numbers to to compare. But then their are questions of age and therefore point of development the players were at at particular stages or Sturridge being played out wide etc.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think these kinds of stats are fraught with difficulties and despite how it seems there is nothing irrefutable or "unambiguous fact" about them. They do very clearly show trends and give glimpses though and they show we have two great strikers and that Sturridge in his current form could be one of the greats. Lets hope it continues.
You use pedantry like it's an insult. Its a badge of honor.
ReplyDeleteIt is not being pedantic at all! You have made an article based on an incorrect quote. All Carra has commented on is that Sturridge has better goal scoring stats than Rooney this season. Rooneys career stats are better as are Suarez's but you choose to post stats that you like." It's so transparent"
ReplyDelete;-)
no, lad, not slightly, a country mile. and he doesn't bother the old folk.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing re assists. I know they are important but when you have a player like Suarez in your team that can score the kinds of rediculous goals he has done this season then just a average pass no where near what seems to be a dangerous position could end up being an assist. In fairness the same can be said for Sturridge too but to a lesser extent.
ReplyDeleteSturridge 65 goals in 174 games. Rooney 225 in 504 games. Suarez 212 in 347 games! Don't these stats count?
ReplyDeleteStats are of limited use when selective taken. "John O'Shea is better player than Sami Hyppia because he won more titles" that sort of thing. I could prove Suarez is better quite easily by comparing their records since Suarez came to England. Just looking at the two of them, it is clear to anyone who follows football that Suarez at his best is a better player than Sturridge at his best. Stats can't prove it but if you watch them you can see it. Both are excellent though and in the top five in the league along with Aguero, Negredo and Van Persie.
ReplyDeletePrecisely!! Hopefully he gets it now!
ReplyDeleteJaimie, John Barnes stated that while SAS are both individually brilliant, he believes they won't necessarily be remembered as a great striker partnership. Why? Because Barnes thinks that the two players rather work towards building their own goal tallies, and play more individually, rather than proactively helping eachother to more so build their partnership goal tally, rather than their individual amount.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I agree with him here. SAS are ultimately two strikers/forwards in the team with the exact same responsibility- score goals and create chances. While they sometimes may become a bit selfish, it's simply their goal-scoring instinct kicking in (for the good or not, depending on the situation). Despite that, they do set each other up, and their presence as a dangerous, dynamic duo alone creates a partnership towards engendering intimidation and apprehension in defenders. I think for them to be true forwards/strikers, they need to have that little selfish instinct; It's their primary job to score goals.
In essence, the whole team are partners with each other, and this whole partnership can be narrowed down to smaller sub-partnerships such as a defensive partnership and striker partnership. SAS are scoring goals and creating goals, and are therefore a successful partnership.
I think it is a mistake to grade strikers on their desire to partner. I think strikers just need to be recognized for the artists they are and to be loved for the creativity they bring to the game. I just want to continue to be thankful that we two such wonderful artists playing for us at the same time and I am alive to watch it. I don't rate one better than the other...I just enjoy watching them both.
ReplyDeleteExactly. It's a striker's instinct to score, not help someone else score. If you're grading a striker partnership based on how much they play for each other with assists, they'd almost be instead classified as a high line midfield partnership.
ReplyDeleteThese stats are only relevant in terms of goalscoring. You can use stats any way you like to skew an argument, and because "goal scoring is all that matters", JK will win his argument.
ReplyDeleteIn overall ability I'd rank Sturridge 3rd out of the trio. He is a far less complete player, he doesn't offer superb passing and is not a quality free kick or pen taker.
However he has proved to be very clinical. I'm sure his conversion rate of chances would be quite high. The difference is Rooney and Suarez have been proven goal scorers throughout their career, Sturridge has only been in this type of form for 12 months.
Won't be remembered as a great partnership because it may only last 1 year.
ReplyDeletesad news big tony hateley has passed away older fans will recall his one season at anfield 20 odd goals most with his head will always remember out jumping mike England and planting a header past pat Jennings in an fa cup replay rip big fella not great downstairs but brill in the air I REMEMBER the head lines in the echo THE H BOMBERS HUNT AND HATELEY
ReplyDeleteYou are basing your opinions on statistics, Rooney and Suarez throughout the entirety of their respective careers have a better goal ratio than Sturridge.
ReplyDeleteBy declaring "goals are all that matter" and selectively using statistics which suit your argument (12 months V entire career) you just skew the argument in your favour and you set the parameters.
Ok, thats one way to make a point.
ReplyDeleteNow if you look at it from a point of view where all other variables are the same - i.e since Sturridge came to LFC, this would mean the teams they played for were equal, then the stats would provide a different story.
First time Sturridge played, against mansfield as the starting point:
Sturridge: 34 apps, 27 goals, 6 assists. Very impressive
Suarez: 37 apps, 35 goals, 9 assists. More impressive (even more so how he has more appearances even with the 10 game ban!)
Don't get me wrong, Sturridge is great, will most probably be runner up for golden boot, probably have 20+ goals this year. But Suarez is the best player in the world this season, hands down.
Another interesting stat looking at least year for Sturridge his KP were double of what they are this year.
Barnes is wrong in saying they're too individualistic, Sturridge is, but Suarez, no. Every single game he puts it on a platter for someone, if not 2 or 3 times. Still Sturridge does tee them up, his 3 assists are to Suarez, so some credit is due. To be honest, think he's a little jealous of their success.
ReplyDeleteShould only really compare this season as Sturridge grew up playing football in England and Suarez took a few years to adjust. Either way, both are fantastic. Chelsea were very stupid letting him go.
ReplyDeleteHa, that's true...
ReplyDeleteThe stats are bogus as the number of games played are massivley apart. You are saying Sturridge has a better return ratio, which i must say is not greatly better! When compared to Suarez stats for almost as 4 times as many apps!! Do this same article when Sturridge is at 117 apps and then pose your question.
ReplyDeleteSturridge is a great striker but Suarez is the better all round player.
ReplyDeleteRight now Suarez is the best player in the EPL and possibly the best player in the world too.
We are fortunate to have both.
Yes. That should be the focal point. We have them both spearheading our attack. As long as they keep banging in the goals I can't care less who is better. It is about the team and club.
ReplyDeleteDude - you're delusional. Stop with the "hate Suarez" campaign. I don't care who it is, if they're scoring and we're winning, they deserve their place. Stop trying to be frivolous and rather concentrate on writing something worthwhile. Like... A preview of the next game and how you see it going. Take a punt at the tactics and scores... Then let people give you feedback. Chances are, you'd not do to well, so would rather resort to dumb comparisons like this. Your article lacks the fundamentals of statistics - go and do some reading. Suarez is the BEST WE HAVE and if he continues like this for 5 years - WILL BE bigger than Dalglish, Rush, et al. He is the best striker in the world - at the moment. So... Stop hating and start thinking...
ReplyDeleteWe have great attacking talent so i'm not bothered who bangs them in, lets enjoy the football we play.....................It's a pleasure to watch, when we defend properly???
ReplyDeleteRooney is a poor mans Suarez, end of!!!
ReplyDeleteCalling Andy Carroll a lummox is very, very harsh. There is true grace and skill involved when big Andy strokes the ball with his left foot. He is also a very skillful header of the ball.
ReplyDeleteSakho, on the other hand, is a proper lummox who is deserving of that title. It was insane to pay 18 million for a player who was the number three or four choice at PSG, clearly behind Alex who himself was not good enough to be first choice at Chelsea. Ayre, the ultimate transfer lummox, should be shown the door for that transfer alone.
The prize for Carroll was set by Newcastle and paid by Chelsea. The deal was that Chelsea should pay Newcastle's asking prize for Carroll plus 15 mill. Only Newcastle valued Carroll at 35 mill. This is ancient history.
ReplyDelete'I thought Ian ayre should have been concentrating on getting a midfielder instead.'
ReplyDeleteI suppose it shouldn't be Ayre's job to think what team needs? Rodgers and management team must do it...
He continuously & consistently has over 95% pass accuracy!
ReplyDeleteSakho should start when fit. Everyone goes on about a mistake in a game and leaves out all the blocks, clearances, tackles ect.
ReplyDeleteWe could have bought Aguero with the 50 mils
ReplyDeleteArsenal and Everton are very classy team IMO
ReplyDeleteRubbish article. You cant claim kono deal would have been rubbish when we don't know if he would have played well or not in the PL. LFC triggered release clause which was only 2mill more than deal for Salah. Not exactly a panic buy, that would have been going in for Tom Ince for example. Kono had been scouted by LFC for months.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fact that 79% of stats are misleading and the other 42% are just plain wrong.
ReplyDeleteYou forgot the other 37% that are made-up on the spot.
ReplyDeleteGood points, Nick. Agree with you re the instinct to be selfish; I personally want to see that in a striker, which is why I couldn't care less if Sturridge doesn't pass to Suarez on certain occasions (and vice-versa) Oftentimes, that selfishness will lead to a goal, and I don't recall it having a negative impact on the team so far.
ReplyDeleteWhether SAS is remembered as a great partnership arguably doesn't matter. As long as they score goals, that's what people will remember.
SAS doesn't lend itself to a mutually philanthropic partnership anyway. They're both main strikers, but with Rush/Dalglish, and Beardsley/Aldo, one of the two was more of a support striker (Dalglish and Beardsley).
Collymore/Fowler (amazing partnership IMO) is similar to SAS in that both were out-and-out strikers, but Collymore was less selfish than Fowler, and provided lots of assists.
Barnes was better than both players combined. Jealous? I think not :-)
ReplyDeleteNah, I just like the word 'pedantry'. There's a certain poetry to it :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of rubbish. Konoplyanka is a class act and was never an attempted panic buy
ReplyDeleteYour comment on Sakho doesn't even warrant a response
Very negative again Jaimie
Aspas is a forward, bought for cover, both are first choice forwards are playing outstanding, so Aspas contribution is not warranted at the moment. Alberto, is in competition with Sterling and Coutinio, both are playing well, Alberto's contribution not warranted at the moment
ReplyDeleteI would definitely question Ayre's ability to get difficult deals done. We seem to dither and haggle for too long on our main targets, get gazumped by teams that are prepared to pay the price, and then run panicking into throwing money at second, third and fourth choices. Mkhitrayan and Salah are classic examples. Seemingly deals were there to be done for both players, all the hard work was done and we messed around with not fronting up the cash. Nothing comes of them and we then start meeting people's buy out clauses for significantly more money - Costa, Wilian and Konoplyanka. Surely if we'd just paid the money for Salah on Jan 1st or Mkhitaryan at the start of the summer we could have had both tied up before anyone else became interested.
ReplyDeleteI think Ayre should stick to commercial deals and stay away from transfers. You need a football man to sort some of these deals; take Ayre with you for the contract writing if you really have to, but a football man for the negotiations.
I have to agree with the above as well - Sherwood stated the deal was a no starter on Thursday. Does that mean Spurs had actually spoken to the Dnipro owner and knew he wouldn't sell? Certainly seems a possibility.
And finally, I saw a tweet from Konoplayanka's agent to say the buy out clause had been met, player agreed terms and medical passed. How then can the owner refuse to sign the deal??? Surely that breaks the contract with the player and he has the right to leave. Liverpool should be folowing that up with UEFA / FIFA if proven to be the case!
I think the Aquillani transfer where we lost approx 14 mill was as bad as Carroll, IMO and we were really short of cash at the time, at least we more or less got Carroll and Suarez for the price of Torres and Babel, so in terms of hard cash it was one of the best transfer windows we have ever had.
ReplyDeleteEveryone wants payback for 20 years of Utd dominance; every team in the Prem was on the receiving end of some unfair results, Fergie's rants, FA bias, terrible refereeing decisions, awful sportsmanship (especially when they lost) and general smugness. How sweet for every other set of fans to see them visibly struggling and seemingly having no answers. No more gloating from Utd fans every Monday - all very quiet in fact. Long may it last and long may the slide continue
ReplyDeleteOr Bjorn Tore Kvarme *shudder*
ReplyDeleteSakho is a beast, Absolutely love the way he can make a pass into midfield and find his player.
ReplyDeleteWe don't 'refuse to see it', we just don't agree. It is NOT self evident.
ReplyDeleteI think you'll find that that's 37.56% are made up on the spot.
ReplyDelete