Stevie: Stage is set for Sturridge
Steven Gerrard believes the stage is set for Daniel Sturridge to shine at Liverpool – but insists he must grasp his Anfield opportunity with both hands.
The Reds captain is delighted by the acquisition of the 23-year-old and is in no doubt about the talent and potential the club's new No.15 possesses.
However, Gerrard claims the hard work starts now for Sturridge as he aims to hit the ground running.
He told the Liverpool Echo: "Daniel's arrival will help the club. He's got power, pace, strength - he has got huge potential.
"He's another attacking option and if you look at the bigger picture from the beginning of the season up until now, we have been a little bit short in the final third. He will add more strength in depth for us.
"Daniel has the quality. I know he's got it - I've seen it. He suffered a bit at Manchester City and moved on to Chelsea where he hasn't played as much as he wanted but has shown flashes of brilliance.
"I think he's at the age now when he needs to settle down, get a settled club and show consistently what qualities he's got. If he can start producing that for us on a weekly basis he can help this club move forward to where we want to be. He has said he wants to play football for a big club, the stage is set for him. There will be no excuses for him. He will be playing with good players at a great club.
"It's all there for him. He just has to go and grasp it with both hands. He's at an age now where he should be performing week in week out."
Sturridge watched on from the directors' box as Liverpool recorded a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday - a result and performance Gerrard described as the ideal start to 2013.
The No.8 was outstanding as he set up two goals for Luis Suarez to add to Raheem Sterling's early opener.
"It was the perfect start to the year and if we play to that level not many sides will be able to live with us, especially at home," said Gerrard.
"I thought we started a bit slow in the first 10 to 15 minutes but when we lifted the tempo we played some lovely stuff and thoroughly deserved the three points.
"It was a great finish by Raheem. For an 18-year-old kid to have that composure to lob the 'keeper just goes to show what type of player he's going to be. You'll see plenty of that from him throughout his career. As for Luis, he's just world class. There are a handful of players in the world who operate on a different level and he is one of them.
"He can score all types of goals. I was looking in the programme at his goal record. For someone who the critics say doesn't score enough, just have a look at his record."