Sturridge signs 'long-term' Liverpool deal

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has committed
his future to the club by signing a new "long-term"
contract, the five-time European champions announced on
Friday.
The 25-year-old England international has scored 36 goals
in 52 games for Liverpool since signing from Chelsea in
January 2013 and put pen to paper on a new deal at the
club's Melwood training base.
"It feels great. It's a big day in my life to commit to this
club and to give the club my best years, which are ahead
of me," Sturridge told the Liverpool website.
"I am thankful for the opportunity and that is the reason I
committed my future. Everyone has been great with me,
from the fans to the staff to the players, so it was an easy
decision. I'm happy with how everything is going."
Liverpool did not specify the length of Sturridge's new
contract, stating only that it was a "long-term" deal.
Sturridge formed a lethal partnership with the now
departed Luis Suarez last season and scored 21 goals,
making him the leading English scorer in the Premier
League.
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"There are a lot of things I'm happy with how they've gone
so far, but there is a lot to come," added the left-footed
forward, who scored one goal for England at this year's
World Cup.
"I've not shown yet what I can do. What I'm doing is just
the start for me. I may have had some good games and
scored some goals, but literally this is the beginning in
terms of what I can show.
"I don't feel I've shown really what I can do as a footballer.
I am looking forward to the hard work, the training, the
games and everything, and looking forward to the future."
Having finished runners-up to Manchester City last season,
Liverpool have struggled this term, winning only two of
their first six league games, but Sturridge believes there are
better days ahead.
"We were so close to success last season and it was a
bitter pill to take, not winning the league, but that's just a
taster of what the fans will get," he said.
"But hopefully this time we'll have the trophies to show for
it. Everyone is very obsessive in terms of wanting success
and being winners. That's what we are. That's the Liverpool
way."
Sturridge this week found himself at the centre of a club-
versus-country row after sustaining a thigh muscle strain
while on international duty with England last month.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers criticised England for
obliging him to train 48 hours after a match, but national
coach Roy Hodgson hit back on Thursday by declaring that
he would continue to determine his players' training
schedules.
Sturridge, who began his career at City, has not played
since sustaining the injury and is a doubt for Liverpool's
home game with West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Who need him b4?