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Daniel Sturridge will not settle for place on Liverpool bench

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is fit again
Image: Daniel Sturridge was left out of Liverpool's line-up to face Villarreal

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has warned manager Jurgen Klopp he wants to be starting matches on a regular basis.

The 26-year-old was an unused substitute in Thursday's Europa League defeat to Villarreal and has started just three of the last seven games.

Sturridge has endured an injury-hit campaign, but the England international is now fully fit and is desperate to play in Klopp's side.

"Maybe people don't see this, but I am someone who wants to play every minute of every match, so maybe when I'm not starting or when I'm taken off, it's hard to take," Sturridge said.

"You want to be on the pitch every single match, every single minute.

"It's exciting, of course, what the manager is bringing and where we are heading. I am doing everything in my power to be out there on the pitch, and I am feeling good as well."

VILLARREAL, SPAIN - APRIL 28:  Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League semi final first leg match between Villarreal CF
Image: Jurgen Klopp defended his decision to leave Sturridge out

Sturridge insists he would like to win honours with Liverpool, but the former Manchester City and Chelsea player expects he will leave Anfield at some point.

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He is desperate to make up for the time lost to injury, and believes game time at Liverpool will help his chances of playing for England at Euro 2016.

"There are things I want to achieve with Liverpool," Sturridge said. "I would never say I am Liverpool until I die, because I would be lying.

I think any player who says, 'Oh yeah, this is the only team I will play for, for the rest of my life', they are deluded.
Daniel Sturridge

"I think any player who says, 'Oh yeah, this is the only team I will play for, for the rest of my life', they are deluded. In football, every team looks for replacements every single year.

"So for myself all I can do every weekend is go out there, perform as well as I can, perform to the best of my abilities, and then come the end of the season hopefully have the European Championship to look forward to. And to next year.

Daniel Sturridge is hoping to make an impact with England at Euro 2016
Image: Sturridge is hoping to make an impact with England at Euro 2016

"I'm feeling so good right now, feeling great, and my body is at a level where I'm able to play however many games a week repeatedly and not break down.

"I am so ambitious, so hungry, right now for success that it is hard to put it into words. Now I'm in a place where I feel amazing, and I feel ready.

"My body feels great. I'm ready to play every game for the team."

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