• Premier League

Rodgers: Sturridge can be one of Europe's best

Brendan Rodgers was full of praise after Daniel Sturridge's hat-trick © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Houllier praises "underrated" Carragher
  
• News: 'Mentally strong' Sturridge wants long Liverpool career
  
• News: Rodgers: Liverpool on track for top four
  

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed young striker Daniel Sturridge as a future force of the European game.

Rodgers marvelled as the 23-year-old turned in an impressive performance against Fulham, a stunning hat-trick helping the Reds to a 3-1 victory.

But it was not a one-man show, with Rodgers quick to praise his 'exciting' team who he claims could have further put the home side to the sword.

However, Rodgers saved special mention for England international Sturridge, believing the January transfer acquisition could one day rule the continent.

"I've been mightily impressed by Daniel Sturridge," Rodgers told reporters. "He is a young player who has got all the attributes to be a top European forward.

"We were very exciting. Going forward we were really creative. We scored three and could have had more.

"It was a terrific second half performance."

Meanwhile, Fulham counter-part Martin Jol lamented his club's late season slump and admitted he was anxiously awaiting the opening of the off-season transfer window.

"We were very happy to be on 40 points but we haven't been able to get a result since to be on 46 or 47," the Dutchman told reporters.

"If you look at the effort we've put in against Chelsea, Arsenal and even today, there's nothing wrong with the effort or application or mentality, but when we've needed to change the game to score, we've looked a bit vulnerable."

"We need four, five or six players but that's normal at any club. We need to strengthen."

"Our home form was always good last year. Last year we could score out of nothing; we had Clint Dempsey to score winners. With Dimitar Berbatov, we gained somebody who could score goals but we lost things in other areas."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.