COMMENT: For Daniel Sturridge the past week has been a reality check. That past reputation. 'The best of his generation. Destined for the very elite'. Now shattered.
As he opened up the backpages over breakfast, seeing his minders' handiwork at play, Sturridge was sure to have been struck by how far he'd dropped in the court of public opinion.
West Ham? Stoke?! At 27. At the peak of his powers. And the press is saying the best he can hope for is the Brit? This wasn't in the script.
"I will continue to strive to be the best player—to be the best striker in the league and do the best for this club," Sturridge was declaring only in August. But today, or better yet, just Saturday, for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool he was again a bit-part player. One of the cast. A 78th substitute at St Mary's. Playing second fiddle to Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. Not natural strikers, but still preferred by the manager. This wasn't in the career plan.
This week's round of speculation wasn't plucked out of thin air. It broke 24 hours after England's thumping of Scotland. Sturridge had been reassured. He hadn't lost it. It was all there. He was still the best England has. And under another manager. At a different club. It'd be he who'd be leading the line. Not one of Klopp's mosquito fleet.
So out went the feelers. Making it known that something could happen involving Sturridge in January. John W Henry will dismiss it. Confident he holds all the cards should someone come calling. But he's unsettled, is Daniel. Unhappy. He knows he's better than this. He wants to settle for more, not less. Being Klopp's 'impact player', the Steve Heighway of the 21st century, just isn't for him. Not at 27.
Behind the scenes, Sturridge is pleased. The feedback's been positive. AC Milan and Inter have both expressed an interest. As has PSG, where Patrick Kluivert, so maligned since taking the sporting director's post, would love to silence those chirping by landing a player of Sturridge's reputation.
Which is just it. Behind the scenes. Inside the game. The England striker remains hugely admired. The idea that should Sturridge become available in January, only West Ham or Stoke would come forward is ludicrous. And last week's claims in the press have only strengthened the player's resolve.
Daniel has an ego. Sure, they all do. But Sturridge's has driven him from Manchester City to Chelsea and then onto Liverpool. He knows how good he is. He knows where he stands compared to his peers. Klopp may not believe so, but for Sturridge, he's head and shoulders the best player Liverpool has. Indeed, the best in the country. And if Klopp won't let him prove it, then he'll go elsewhere - and it won't be to Stoke or West Ham.
He wants to show 'em. All of 'em. Those writing and talking about the game, know nowt. I'm better than this. I'm no mid-table player.
This move will be driven by Sturridge. As much as there's tension between the two, Klopp wants him around. But he's no first choice. With Sadio Mane lost to the African Cup of Nations in January, Klopp will use that as a carrot for Sturridge to stick around. But the striker knows, long-term, he's not in the manager's plans. Even Klopp hinted as much when admitting he could buy a replacement for Mane during the winter market. There's a hole at left-back. And an England striker on the bench. But Klopp's sole plan for January is to buy cover for Mane. Sturridge knows the score.
And as he's told friends, even if he does win a start, there'll be no run of games afforded him. No chance to find his bearings. One slip. One flat performance. And he'll be out.
Sturridge has been through all this before, at Chelsea. But that was four years ago. Being young, at that stage of his career, he could almost accept it. But not today. Not when he's convinced he's being held back.
Henry and FSG will feel confident in their position. As will Klopp. But if there's one thing the Sturridge camp are experts at, it's engineering a move away. They did it at City. As they did with Chelsea. If the right club comes forward - and with the right offer...
A January split appears inevitable.
INJURY TIME
At left-back, Jurgen Klopp is happy with what he has. He's delighted with James Milner's contribution and been impressed by the attitude of Alberto Moreno in training and when selected.
Options have been put forward to the Liverpool manager: Jonas Hector of FC Koln and Schalke's Sean Kolasinac have both been discussed. As has Luke Shaw. A source tipped off Tribalfootball.com a fortnight ago about the prospect of the Manchester United fullback coming into the equation, but we couldn't nail anything down. However, with the claim making it to the press last week, clearly something is bubbling along.
But, for now, the word is Klopp has no grand plans to buy a left-back in January.
And strengthening his case last week was the return to training of Joe Gomez. Having Milner, Moreno and a fit-again Gomez available for the second-half of the season has Klopp happy with his lot - at left-back at least.
