Daniel Sturridge plans to do everything he can to help
Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez overhaul Robin van Persie in the race for the
Barclays Premier League Golden Boot award.
The Uruguayan converted a sumptuous solo goal during the
Reds' handsome 5-0 triumph over Swansea on Sunday, extending his tally for the
2012-13 season to 23 in all competitions.
Suarez now has 18 in the league, just one behind the Dutch
forward - a scenario Sturridge hopes will be reversed before the campaign
reaches its climax.
"I don't see why not. There are 11 games left for us so
I'm sure he can," the 23-year-old said when asked by Liverpoolfc.com
whether the No.7 could claim the individual prize.
"I'll try and help him get there and give him
opportunities. It's always good to get individual glories as a player because
they're the things you can look back on at the end of your career and tell your
grandchildren you were top scorer for that season.
"I'm sure he'll be gunning for that and I'll try to
help him get there."
Sturridge was on the scoresheet himself against the Swans,
increasing his record since joining the club last month to an impressive five
goals in seven appearances.
After being frustrated on several occasions by visiting
goalkeeper Michel Vorm, however, the striker needed a helping hand from his
captain to convert the final strike of a perfect afternoon at Anfield.
Sturridge revealed: "Stevie was very nice to me and let
me have the penalty. I guess he knew my pain and thought he would be kind to
me.
"Before that, the 'keeper made some good saves and I
was hitting the target. When you hit the target and the 'keeper saves it,
there's nothing you can really do. The 'keeper did his job, I was doing my job
- he got the better of me.
"So I was lucky that I got the penalty from Stevie and
I'm happy that I put it away.
"He was asking Carra first, then I asked him. In the
end, he let me have it and I thank him very much for giving me the opportunity
to score another goal."
The England international explained his wish that Jamie
Carragher will find the target before his retirement at the end of the season
and delivered glowing words for the veteran defender.
"I'm sure there'll be a few more opportunities for
him," Sturridge added.
"He's a living legend at the club - he's a great man in
the way he goes about his business. He trains extremely hard every day and he's
a leader for us on the field. He'll be missed when he leaves the club."
Sturridge was injured and then ineligible as the Reds
suffered consecutive 2-0 defeats by West Brom and Zenit St Petersburg last
week.
His return on Sunday coincided with a highly impressive
performance from Brendan Rodgers' side - but the former Chelsea and Manchester
City man rejected suggestions that he was the difference.
"I just work as hard as I can in training and try my
hardest to help the team win games. If the goals continue to come then I'll be
very happy with that," said Sturridge.
"It's important that everybody chips in and we get
clean sheets. It's not about one player scoring all the goals or individuals
trying to get glory - it's about being a team and getting a victory.
"We work hard together - whether I play or not, we try
to work as hard as we can. The manager tells us to do that every day in
training as well as in games.
"I wouldn't say my return was the reason why we won; we
worked very hard out there, deserved the win and played as a team. If we get
clean sheets and take our chances, we will always win games.
"We haven't been clinical enough and it's important
that we continue that now."
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