Sturridge and Moreno to leave Liverpool with Klopp’s praise

LFC have today confirmed that both Daniel Sturridge and Alberto Moreno, who are out of contract at the end of this month, will leave the club.

In a statement the club thanked the players for 'their outstanding contributions to the club and wishes them all the very best for the future.'

Jurgen Klopp passed on his thoughts on both of the players.

“The most important words to say to these two remarkable players is ‘thank you’.

“They were here when I arrived as manager and during that period they - as much as anyone - helped to establish us as a team that would be heading in the right direction. Without them we wouldn’t be the team and club we are in this moment.

“Alberto is a person whose personality is reflected in how he plays. Full of life, full of energy, always positive. An unbelievable character who is always willing to give all of himself for the team.

“I know this season, and the end of the last, maybe the minutes on the pitch he would have wanted and deserved were not there, but his contribution did not diminish. How he was in training kept the entire group on their toes. Albie is world-class and I know he will be back in the Spain national team in the not too distant future.

“Daniel has earned the right to be considered a modern-day Liverpool great, I would think. He came to the club while we were trying to rebuild and re-establish ourselves. Some of the goals he has scored for Liverpool were so, so, so important.

“He is one of the best finishers I have ever seen in my life. He scores goals you think could and should not be possible.

“Again, like many players in my squad, Daniel has had to be patient and contribute when asked during games, but even this season he has played a vital role.

“What maybe is missed on the outside of the club by many is what a great leader Daniel is in our dressing room. He is smart, confident and not afraid to speak up when he thinks there is something that needs adapting to help the team. He has been great with many of the younger players also, so he has been so important to our progression here.

“I wish both players nothing but success and joy wherever their journey takes them next. Whoever has them next will be so lucky to have these outstanding personalities in their ranks.

“We will miss them of course, but we can say farewell with the best words possible: Guys, you leave as European Champions.

Neither player is likely to be short of options as they look to take the next step in their careers.

We wish both of them all the very best for the future.

Daniel Sturridge Jan 2013- June 2019

Sturridge joined the club in January of 2013 after Roberto Di Matteo had been sacked and Rafa Benitez installed at Chelsea.  Sturridge didn't play in the final two months due to injury.

His Liverpool career got off to an immediate flyer.

He made his debut in the FA Cup, and scored after 7 minutes in the reds 2-1 win over Mansfield.  A week later he scored in his first league appearance (from the bench) in a 2-1 win over Man Utd at Old Trafford.  And then he scored again on his full league debut and first game at Anfield a further week later.

The following season he formed an awesome partnership with Luis Suarez as the reds came close to securing the Premier League title.  He scored 21 league goals in 29 appearances.

Following Suarez' departure, he scored in the reds opening game of 2014/15 before suffering an injury whilst on international duty and his Liverpool career began to dissipate as injuries accumulated and he featured in just 12 games.

A brief resurgence saw him scored 13 competitive goals in the 2015/16 season but he played less than a third of the Premier League matches.

This final season at Liverpool saw him actually involved in more games than any of the previous 4 seasons, but he was limited to mainly substitute appearances and scored just 4 goals.

Alberto Moreno August 2014 - June 2019

Moreno was brought to Anfield by Brendan Rodgers as a Europa League winner with Sevilla and was a first team regular for his first two seasons - featuring in 91 games, mostly under Rodgers but also in the half season that Jurgen Klopp arrived.

In the final game of the 2015/16 which saw Klopp guide the reds to the Europa League final he was exposed in the game and then in the first game of the following season he conceded a penalty.  He was dropped from the reds team and from that period struggled to be first choice as Klopp utilised James Milner at left back for the season.

The emergence of Joe Gomez and the arrival of Andy Robertson sealed his fate as he fell further down the pecking order.

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