Dan: I missed out on shooting practice

Sturridge struggled after picking up a knock against Notts County, but he was never going to pass up the opportunity to put the Reds' rivals to the sword at Anfield.

The birthday boy pounced in the penalty area to guide a Daniel Agger header home on three minutes and grab what proved to be the decisive goal of the game.

Afterwards, he told Liverpoolfc.com: "To get the three points against Manchester United on a day like this is fantastic and I'm delighted with the victory.

"I didn't train after the Notts County game because I picked up the injury. I had to miss out on shooting sessions and yesterday in training I couldn't really do anything.

"But I got treatment this morning and at training I got treatment throughout the week. In the end I was able to go out there and try to help the team win.

"It was one of those situations; in a game like that, you don't want to miss out and fortunately I've been able to get through the game."

Each of Sturridge's three league goals this season have proved decisive. Stoke were beaten by a long-range drive from the 24-year-old on the opening day, before he danced through the Aston Villa defence to fire the Reds to another three points a week later.

After sinking United, the striker could be forgiven for revelling in the limelight; however, Sturridge insists that's not what today's performance was about.

"We're just working as a team and working as a unit," said Sturridge. "We've got great team spirit and we all work together. If you do that, then anything is possible.

"There'll be expectations, but I don't really believe in them. I don't think I expect to do anything. I don't expect to win, I don't expect to lose.

"The league position doesn't really matter, what matters most is that we work as a team and if we do that, then the results will follow." 

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