Sturridge ‘an amazing player’, says Liverpool defender Klavan

Liverpool defender Ragnar Klavan has heaped praise on team-mate Daniel Sturridge, after the forward bagged the Reds’ fourth goal in a win over Stoke City at Anfield on Tuesday.

The goal was Sturridge’s first in the Premier League this season, and Liverpool’s 100th in the Premier League under Jurgen Klopp.

Jonathan Walters gave Stoke an early lead when he headed home Erik Pieters’ whipped cross, before goals from Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino, as well as a Giannelli Imbula own goal, cemented the win.

Estonian Klavan singled out England forward Sturridge for his quality and unpredictability.

Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

“He’s an amazing player and the quality in his left leg is something special,” Klavan said.

“He’s always a threat to everybody and in training it’s really difficult to play against him because you never know what he’s going to do – in a good way.

“That’s Daniel. He’s really important to us and even if he comes from the bench you can see he’s bringing something extra.

Klavan added he was pleased with how the team reacted to going behind and felt the side “matured” as the game progressed.

“It was nice to see the whole team adapt to the game,” he said.

“In the beginning it wasn’t really the best start but slowly we came into the game and adapted to the situation Stoke offered us. It was nice to see our team is really mature.”