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Blues' striker frustration scuppered Sturridge-to-L'pool

Daniel Sturridge will battle Fernando Torres for a striking berth © PA Photos

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Liverpool's deadline day bid to land Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge was scuppered after the Blues failed to sign a replacement for the England international.

The Reds did not seal deals for any of their transfer targets on Friday, with Chelsea's reluctance to do business on Sturridge a blow to manager Brendan Rodgers' plans.

Sturridge played for Chelsea in Friday night's UEFA Super Cup clash with Atletico Madrid in Monaco after Liverpool were forced to admit defeat in their elongated chase for the striker.

Rodgers was hopeful a deal for Sturridge was close before Andy Carroll was given the green light to join West Ham on Thursday.

However, Chelsea's failure to land their deadline day striking target - rumoured to be Schalke's Andre Schurrle - has left Liverpool's frontline looking limited.

Luis Suarez and summer signing Fabio Borini are the only senior strikers available to Rodgers following the decision to offload Carroll, with their missing out on Clint Dempsey another setback after he opted to join Tottenham in a £6 million deal.

The collapse of the proposed deal for Sturridge comes after Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo spoke of the importance of keeping the pressure on first-choice striker Fernando Torres.

"Competition is very important for a professional sportsman," Di Matteo said. "I don't think Fernando has started this season so strongly just because Drogba is not here because he needs to be pushed as well.

"We have competition for his place and Daniel Sturridge is part of that. Competition is very important for us."

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