Daniel Sturridge a Major Doubt for Merseyside Derby

All the signs leading up to this Saturday’s meeting with Everton looked positive for Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, but with the 25-year old yet to return to full training, he remains a major doubt to make his return this weekend.

There were whispers leading up to the League Cup match with Middlesbrough that the Reds hit-man could very well make the bench after he returned to light training ahead of schedule, but it now looks like those estimates were a quite a bit off the mark. Sturridge picked up a thigh injury while on international duty with England and was subsequently ruled out for up to three weeks after scans revealed the extent of the problem. Although this weekend’s match with the Anfield outfits cross-town rivals was the target for his return, it’s looking like it may be coming a touch too soon for him.

“He’s a player out on the field who’s working. If he doesn’t make it, he won’t be far off” Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said in his pre-match press conference. “There’s still a couple of days to go yet before the game. He certainly won’t be match fit but it’ll be great to have him back.”

The Reds have struggled not only at the back this season, but up top as well as the Northern Irishman tries to integrate a number of new attacking players into the side following a busy summer in the transfer market. Despite a number of high profile signings — including striker Mario Balotelli and play-maker Adam Lallana — he’s seen his side labour to a disappointing two wins and three losses in their opening five matches.

Although the Reds are likely to be without Sturridge, it’s expected that both Jordan Henderson, who picked up a hip problem going into the Middlesbrough match, and Philippe Coutinho, who was excluded from the match-day squad that lost out to West Ham United last weekend, will be back in contention this weekend.