Former Liverpool star Didi Hamann has called on Brendan Rodgers to leave Daniel Sturridge out of the starting line up for Sunday’s crucial clash with Manchester United.
The 25-year-old only returned from a five month lay off seven weeks ago, and has been looking to get himself back up to full fitness in that time.
Sturridge did not start the Reds recent 2-1 win over Manchester City – a game widely considered to be Liverpool’s best home performance of the season.
And Champions League winner Hamann has called for similar line up for Sunday’s showdown.
“That’s what I’d do, personally,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “I would not be surprised to see Sterling play up top, with Sturridge on the bench.
“I don’t think Daniel is quite at 100% yet, so I think it would be good to have him as a real weapon on the bench for the last half hour, and let Sterling stretch the United defence to start with.
“If you think back to the game at Old Trafford, that was the first time we really saw Sterling used as a striker. And though we lost the game, we created more chances than we had all season, really, and he made a big difference.
“I think he’s played that role beautifully since. It changes everything when you have that pace up front, because you can stretch the game. We lacked that in the first part of the season when Mario Balotelli or Rickie Lambert were playing up there, but we’ve had it since that Old Trafford game.
“It would be a big call to leave Sturridge out, but I just think Sterling may be the way to go.”