'Credit Daniel, he's ahead of schedule'
The credit for Daniel Sturridge should begin before the striker's outstanding impact during Liverpool's thrilling 5-3 victory over Stoke City last weekend, insists assistant manager Colin Pascoe.
In the second half at the Britannia Stadium, the Reds' No.15 returned from seven weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury to ensure Brendan Rodgers' side claimed all three points.
Firstly, a sumptuous dribble and reverse pass allowed Luis Suarez to put Liverpool 4-2 ahead; then the 24-year-old's persistence and unerring finishing grabbed a fifth strike and sealed the win.
His performance was a result of the rehabilitation work undertaken at the club's training complex in the preceding weeks - a committed effort highlighted by Pascoe when discussing the forward.
"He's a fantastic player, he looks after himself and he has trained well," the Welshman told Liverpoolfc.com. "A couple of days before the game, he was looking sharp. He has trained well.
"It is the way he has conducted himself when he has been injured, looking after himself. He had his dates of roughly when he would come back - I think he was ahead of that.
"It's great credit to Daniel for putting the work into the recovery, and he was ready for the Stoke game. The medical team are the ones who were working with him and getting him back.
"It was great for Daniel, and all of us, for him to get back early and have the impact he did at Stoke. You want competition and with everyone fit, it's great competition for every place.
"With all of our rivals winning at the weekend, it was very important to get the three points. There are not many teams that score five goals at Stoke.
"Even at half-time, we had gone in 2-2 and we were obviously disappointed, having been 2-0 up, to give two sloppy goals away. But the reaction of the lads was fantastic in the second half and we put them to bed."
A downside of the triumph in Stoke was the concession of three goals; Pascoe acknowledged that improvements are required in the defensive area, but explained why that starts from the front.
"We're disappointed with the goals we've given away," said the assistant.
"We're all in it together and the way the team is performing going forward, it's a joy to watch. The defence starts from the front and the boys are working hard in training to eradicate [the goals conceded]."
The Reds have no problems whatsoever at the other end of the pitch - indeed, only Manchester City have fired more than the 51 goals notched by Sturridge, Suarez and co so far this season.
Asked to put himself in the shoes of an opposition defender tasked with handling Liverpool's attack, Pascoe offered an honest opinion of why he would rather not.
He joked: "I'd be very worried and wouldn't have too many good sleeps in the days running up to the game!"