Rickie Lambert spent one season at his boyhood club Liverpool and played alongside some of the club’s greats at Anfield.
The Scouser was one of three Southampton players to make the switch to Merseyside in 2014 as he rejoined the Reds after being released by the club at 15.
He scored three goals in 32 appearances across all competitions throughout the 2014/15 campaign before departing for West Brom the following summer.
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Although Lambert’s fairy tale return to Anfield did not pan out as hoped, Mario Balotelli was arguably a worse signing to replace Luis Suarez.
Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Now, the former striker has reflected on his time with the Reds and named one former teammate as one of the fastest players he has ever played with.
Daniel Sturridge is Rickie Lambert’s fastest teammate
In an interview with That’s Football, Lambert was asked to build the perfect player from the players he has played alongside throughout his career, choosing ex-Reds teammate Daniel Sturridge for his pace.
- Left foot: “Left foot, I would go Leighton Baines.”
- Right foot: “Steven Gerrard.”
- Pace: “I’ll probably go, Sturridge.”
- Skills: “Coutinho.”
- Free-kicks: “Free kicks, Wayne Rooney.”
- Football IQ: “Adam Lallana.”
Sturridge helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2019, but most supporters will remember the Englishman for his efforts in the 2013/14 season.
The 36-year-old scored 25 goals and added seven assists in 33 appearances across all competitions that year, starring alongside Suarez and Raheem Sterling as the Reds fell short in the Premier League title race to Manchester City.
Sturridge admitted he regrets leaving Liverpool when he did – the forward left for Super Lig outfit Trabzonspor in 2019 and was released by the club in March 2020 as the Reds claimed their 19th league title under Jurgen Klopp.
Indeed, Sturridge is still highly regarded at Anfield, but his departure was inevitable at the time, he failed to replicate the heights reached in the 2013/14 season, as injuries plagued his career.
The Englishman is fondly remembered for delivering one of the most electric individual campaigns at Anfield in the Premier League era following his £8 million move from Chelsea, and helped the Reds reach multiple cup finals after the devastating loss of Suarez to Barcelona.
Daniel Sturridge lost his speed towards the end of his career
Sturridge boasts one of the most impressive catalogue of goals during his spell with the Reds, but his blistering speed is what set him apart in the Premier League.
He, alongside Sterling, would stretch the opposition defence, allowing Suarez to work his magic and give the Uruguayan multiple options in attack.
However, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher noted how quickly Sturridge lost his speed towards the end of his career and believes that his frequent spells on the sidelines played a significant role.
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“Sturridge is a completely different player now to when he first came to Liverpool,” Carragher told Sky Sports. “The whole point of Liverpool buying Sturridge under Brendan Rodgers when I was at the club, was that he gave us penetration in behind, he had pace.
“But there was one occasion in the game tonight where he fell over into the hoardings in front of The Kop, and I thought he had to get that ball. I don’t know if his pace has completely gone or whether he’s that worried with injuries that he pulls out of something.”