Liverpool great Jamie Carragher believes that Daniel Sturridge's return from injury will help the Reds go on a strong run in the last part of the season.

The 26-year-old, who was making his only fourth league start of the season against Aston Villa on Sunday, scored the opening goal in the 16th minute of the 6-0 rout of the Midlands club and could now have even more of a positive impact on Jurgen Klopp's side according to Carragher.

The Sky Sports pundit said: "Brendan Rodgers could look back and say the injuries to Daniel Sturridge maybe cost him his job. That's how much he elevates this Liverpool team.

"Without him and Coutinho, it's an average team and we've been watching that for the last few months.

"We're expecting Jurgen Klopp to come in and make a difference, but I think he said in the week he's not David Copperfield. You need top players.

"That's what Liverpool have. They haven't got that many of them, but the one true one they have is too injury-prone and that's the problem for them.

"If they can keep him fit between now and the end of the season, you would expect a good run."