- Gary Neville not convinced Liverpool letting Sturridge leave was wise move
- Striker joined West Brom on loan for the rest of the season
- Carragher counter-argues with valid point on England international
- READ MORE: ‘Average team finds way not to win’ – Ex-Liverpool star launches scathing but honest assessment
Gary Neville has expressed his concern over Liverpool’s decision to allow Daniel Sturridge to leave the club during the January transfer window.
The 28-year-old secured a loan move to join West Bromwich Albion for the rest of the season, as noted by The Guardian, and from his perspective, it’s a sensible choice given his lack of playing time at Anfield.
However, with Jurgen Klopp short of out-and-out strikers to fire the goals in to keep them in contention for their objectives this season, Neville doesn’t see the sense in letting Sturridge leave.
On one hand, it could be argued that the player’s best interests have come into play for both parties, and it’s the right decision as he looks to put years of injury problems behind him and get a good run of games at the Hawthorns to rediscover his fitness and form.
Further, with the World Cup coming up this summer in Russia, Sturridge will undoubtedly want to have one last run at getting into Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Nevertheless, Neville doesn’t think it was a good choice from a Liverpool perspective, and despite his lack of playing time, one injury to Roberto Firmino could leave the Merseyside giants in a deep hole.
“I look at Sturridge. People are saying ‘Sturridge isn’t playing anymore, it’s not a big loss’,” he told Sky Sports, as quoted by The Express.
“Firmino gets injured for two months. Liverpool are in the Champions League and are trying to get into the top four… Danny Ings and Solanke. Were they wise to let him go? It just seemed a crazy one for me for a massive risk.”
Time will tell if Liverpool do live to regret that choice, but as sensibly argued by Jamie Carragher in the same segment of the Debate Show, he maintains that Sturridge isn’t the same player he used to be and so in isolation, the move won’t make much of a difference to Liverpool.
Danny Ings and Dominic Solanke don’t scream out as individuals capable of making a big difference for a top side like the Reds who are chasing a top-four finish as they’re not proven at that level, but perhaps Klopp’s faith in them will be rewarded if the times comes and they’re needed by the German tactician.