Welcome back, Daniel Sturridge.
Sturridge scored two goals Saturday in Liverpool’s 3-2 Premier League win over Aston Villa. Sturridge scored his first goals of 2015-16 in just his second appearance in the season, and his burst suggests better times are ahead for him and the Reds.
Liverpool already was leading 1-0 when Sturridge opened his personal account in the 59th minute. He ran onto James Milner’s pass and thundered a volley with the outside of his foot past goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Aston Villa halved Liverpool’s lead in the 66th minute through Rudy Gestede, but Sturridge restored the Reds’ two-goal advantage just two minutes later.
Sturridge’s combination play with Philippe Coutinho demonstrated Liverpool’s renewed attacking potency.
Sturridge missed the end of last season and the beginning of this term because of a hip injury, corrective surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation spell. Sturridge’s goals against Aston Villa were his first in any competition since March 22 (in Liverpool’s Premier League loss to Manchester United).
It remains to be seen whether Sturridge, 26, returns to the heights he reached in 2013-14. What mattered most to Liverpool on Saturday was the sight of Sturridge performing his signature celebration dance for the first time in far too long.
Liverpool-Aston Villa wrap: Reds back on winning track >>
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@PremierLeague
