Daniel Sturridge: Everyone has a role to play in Madrid

The Reds will contest a second consecutive Champions League final next Saturday, with Tottenham Hotspur their opposition at Estadio Metropolitano.

Jürgen Klopp leant on the depth of his squad in the crucial semi-final second leg against FC Barcelona earlier this month, Divock Origi emerging as one of that night’s many heroes with the winner at the Kop end, for example.

And Sturridge understands the importance of every player being mentally prepared to ‘make a difference’ if called upon on June 1.

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“To be successful you need to use the squad, everyone has a role to play,” the striker told Liverpoolfc.com at the ongoing training camp in Marbella.

“If you look over the years at finals that have been played, there have been players who have hardly played any games that have scored goals or won tournaments for their countries or won finals for their teams, players who aren’t on the pitch who come on and make a difference as well.

“So it’s important for everybody to be tuned in to everything that’s needed for the team to be successful next week.”

Watch: Sturridge on CL final and importance of squad

The trip to Madrid represents the third European final of Klopp’s Liverpool reign, which is still fewer than four years old.

Sturridge scored in the first, though a second-half turnaround by Sevilla rendered his impudent, prodded opener immaterial in the 2016 Europa League showpiece.

The Reds have made significant strides since that night in Basel but the Englishman acknowledges the clinching of silverware remains between them and any sense of satisfaction.

“It has improved a lot. But the main thing everybody wants is success and trophies,” said Sturridge.

“I feel we need to take the next step and push to the next level. Winning a trophy – which is the biggest hurdle – allows you to win a lot more because you know how to win. That’s the thing we’re lacking at the moment, jumping over that last hurdle to provide the first trophy under the manager.”

Liverpool have already recorded two victories over Tottenham in 2018-19.

A fully-deserved 2-1 win against Mauricio Pochettino’s side at Wembley was followed later in the season by the same result – this one much more hard-fought – at Anfield.

Those clashes, allied to Sturridge’s analysis of the nature of most finals, make another close contest likely in nine days’ time.

He added: “I’ve been involved in finals with Liverpool and Chelsea as well. With Chelsea, when we won things it was very fine margins and it’s the same when you lose.

“There aren’t many finals where a team completely dominates the game and overruns the other team, it’s very rare you find that.

“It’s all about those small margins and trying to overcome adversities; the other team will have a lot more play than you sometimes and it’s just about defending as a unit, and when you get your chances to take them as well. It’s always like that in finals and I don’t think it will change.”