• Premier League

'Liverpool must learn to win without Sturridge'

Brendan Rodgers has told his Liverpool players that they must find a way to win regularly without the injured Daniel Sturridge.

Rodgers is likely to be without Sturridge until mid-November, revealing on Thursday that there is no definite timescale as to when he will return from a calf strain.

Liverpool are likely to be without Daniel Sturridge until mid-November © Getty Images

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Sturridge's strike partnership with Luis Suarez was a major factor in Liverpool's title challenge last season, as they scored 52 of the club's 101 Premier League goals between them.

Rodgers has acknowledged that none of the strikers at the club other than Sturridge can be used as a like-for-like replacement for Suarez, who joined Barcelona for £75 million in July.

"Anyone will recognise that if you take out of our team the goal threat that we had last year, then you're removing a huge percentage of that efficiency," he said.

"But for us it's about finding a different way to get the same result, which is to win games. It's not been as fluent or as effective, but we're working hard to master that."

Sturridge hasn't played for Liverpool since August 31, having suffered a thigh problem during an England training session on September 5.

He had only just returned to full training with his club when he was struck down seven days ago with his latest injury, which was expected to keep him out for up to a month.

Rodgers added: "When Daniel plays, it opens up a lot more spaces, and gives us that fluency and fluidity within the team that can create space for other players. It's something we want to get back as quickly as we can."

One alternative option, which Rodgers tried in the second half as his team were beaten 3-0 at home by Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, is to move Raheem Sterling further forward into a central attacking role.

But despite that, Rodgers insists Rickie Lambert - who has made just one Premier League start since his £4 million move from Southampton in the summer - has a key role to play at Anfield.

"Rickie's role is important for us. It might not always seem that way, because he doesn't play so much, but he has been working outstandingly well every day," Rodgers said. "He's there when required, and when he's called upon, he always gives 100 percent to what we're trying to achieve.

"Rickie has always been very clear about his position and what the expectations of him are. Rickie knew he was going to get games here. He knew he wasn't going to be a starter, but that there would be times when the team would need him.

"That's how it's panned out for him, really, in his time here. In the game last night, we needed something tactically different, which was about speed and mobility, and that was why we put Raheem through the middle."

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