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Brendan Rodgers: Daniel Sturridge can shine new light on revamped Liverpool

Image: Daniel Sturridge: Set to return shortly

Brendan Rodgers expects the imminent return of "reference point" Daniel Sturridge to help Liverpool push for a top-four place.

Saturday's home game against West Ham is the latest target for Sturridge, who returned to full training earlier in January after five months out with a thigh injury.

And Rodgers reckons the England striker could complete a side which has been rapidly returning to form under a new system following an indifferent autumn.

Liverpool go into the West Ham game unbeaten in six league games, and even their performance in Capital One Cup defeat to Chelsea earned widespread positive reviews.

Rodgers said: "It's had a huge impact on our season, Daniel being out. You can trace it back to the beginning of the season when we played one of our early games against Tottenham (Liverpool won 3-0 at White Hart Lane in August).

He's looked very, very good in training and at this moment he looks in top-class condition.
Brendan Rodgers on Sturridge

"You could see what a reference he was for the team. From that point he hasn't played, and the team struggled for a few months. The last number of months we've nailed down a way of working. Put Daniel into that and he shines a different light onto the team again.

"He's looked very, very good in training and we'll see how he is on Friday, but certainly at this moment he looks in top-class condition."

For his part, Sturridge feels he could even be a stronger player when he gets back to 100 per cent fitness, but he admits it has been tough watching games rather than playing.

Sturridge said: "I think it will have helped me in terms of watching the team and seeing things that I need to do to add to the team's dimensions. We've been playing very well and I am excited - I am excited for the future.

"I'm feeling great, looking forward to getting back into action and helping my teammates.

"I don't like watching too much but I had to. I watched every single match when I was in the States - I was getting up early doors in the morning, so sometimes it'd be 4am depending on where I was and what time the game was.

"I'd get up early and it was important for me to see how we played, the formations and the style of the new players. It was a great time for me to just kind of see things from the outside looking in. Usually when you're involved you're in a bubble and you don't see what is going on, so it's been great for me to see everything."

Raheem Sterling has been starting in a more central attacking role recently in Sturridge's absence and, according to Rodgers, there have been no hitches in ongoing contract talks with the 20-year-old.

"I think it's all in hand with the football club and his representatives," the manager said. "Raheem's very happy here - as I've said he's a young player at one of the greatest clubs in the world and playing very, very well.

"He sees his long-term future here - he's very happy with his progress and how he's developing, and he's a real sponge for learning. He knows he's in the right place to develop and be looked after, and I'm sure it'll be sorted very soon."

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