Ian Wright: Daniel Sturridge may return to bench but he should be grateful he’s still at Liverpool

DANIEL STURRIDGE will not be entirely happy at being on Liverpool’s bench for their Champions League clash away at Napoli tomorrow night.

But it could have been worse for him, he could have been playing for West Brom at Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship instead.

The striker’s sensational equaliser at Chelsea on Saturday night was his fourth goal for Liverpool in all competitions this campaign — one more than he managed for the club last season.

People are scratching their heads wondering why he has returned to Anfield looking like a different player following his unsuccessful loan stint at the Baggies last term.

But if being at a club that is relegated does not give you the wake-up call of all wake-up calls then nothing will.

And it appears Albion’s drop caused alarm bells to ring inside Daniel’s head.

I am pleased for him. People were saying he had lost his way and was not interested any more.

But you never heard him complain, moan or say he wanted to leave.

Now Daniel has gone back, he has nicked his goals, he got himself going again and put himself back in the frame. Suddenly everyone is talking about him again.

Sturridge’s contract at Liverpool runs out at the end of this season.

His move to Merseyside may not have worked out the way he wanted it to.

But the word is, the club are ready to offer him a new deal — and if I were him I would snap it up. He may have concerns at being fourth-choice behind Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in the striking pecking order at Anfield.

But Daniel, 29, is at a stage of his career when he does not need to be picked all the time.

What he needs is the regular opportunity to do what he did at Stamford Bridge on Saturday — by showing he is still a top striker when the chance arises.

His England team-mate Danny Welbeck has realised at Arsenal he is not going to get in front of Alexandre Lacazette or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang so he has settled for his lot. And his performances have significantly improved under new boss Unai Emery.

Sturridge needs to do the same. He may not play every game but he is still making a contribution to a team challenging for the title and possibly more.

There would have been a time when he would not have been happy at having to come off the bench.

But times have changed and after his experience at The Hawthorns last season it looks like he accepts his fate. This is what maturity does to you.

Fair play to him for growing up and recognising this. It may not be the way he dreamt his career would go.

But making an impact at Liverpool is much better than making an impact at a club battling relegation. If I were Daniel, I would do all I could to secure a new contract at Liverpool.

They are a club going places. They reached the Champions League final last season with a squad not as strong as the one they have now.

It looks like they are the only ones capable of challenging Manchester City for the Premier League title.

Why would you be in a hurry to leave that club?

Jurgen Klopp may have been critical of Daniel in the past. But it seems to me the Liverpool boss is like Pep Guardiola — he only wants his players to give their best for him and when you do he showers you with appreciation and love.

I saw a nice picture of the pair last week and both appeared really happy.

Klopp has given Daniel belief and hope again.

Daniel might feel he should start every week. But the game has changed, very few players start every week. He did not start every week at West Brom.

He has not started a Premier League game for Liverpool this season, yet there are calls for him to be included in the England squad for this month’s Nations League games against Spain and Croatia.

I don’t want to weigh-in on whether he should be picked or not. He is not a regular at Liverpool at present but he is being talked up for the Three Lions.

I just am just concentrating on him and Liverpool. He needs to realise he is at the best place.

Being behind Salah, Firmino and Mane at a club heading for glory is not such a bad lot.