• Premier League

Sturridge will not face former club Chelsea

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge will miss Saturday's Premier League home match against his former club Chelsea as he is still recovering from a calf problem.

Manager Brendan Rodgers said that the England striker has yet to return to full training after suffering the injury during a training session on October 16.

Sturridge, who scored 21 league goals for Liverpool last season as they finished runners-up to Manchester City, has not played for his club since the 3-0 victory at Tottenham on August 31.

'Chelsea know how to park the bus'

Mourinho's tactics frustrated Liverpool © Getty Images

• Nemanja Matic says Liverpool did not know how to break Chelsea down as Jose Mourinho's side secured a 2-0 win after parking the bus at Anfield last April.
• Chelsea dealt Liverpool's title hopes a huge blow with Steven Gerrard's slip allowing Demba Ba to race through and score a vital opening goal, before Willian wrapped up the win with another late counter-attack.
• "Nobody is happy when you lose a game and they weren't happy after that game," Matic told reporters.
• "Many teams have tried to park the bus in front of the goal against us, but we win. It's not easy. If you defend you have to know how to defend. It was 2-0. We showed we have quality."
• Matic went on to suggest Premier League leaders Chelsea will adopt different tactics when they return to Anfield this Saturday with a more expansive mindset.
• "It is a different story," said Matic. "We are ready. We are first and we want to stay there. We will play a different way and I'm very happy because we will play one big game on Saturday."

He sustained a thigh injury while training with England on September 5, and was on the verge of a return when he suffered his setback.

Sturridge did not train with the rest of his team-mates on Thursday, instead continuing to work on his recovery with the club's medical team.

Rodgers said: "He's out on the field today with the rehab team. He's moving very well. But he's probably a little bit of time away yet."

Liverpool's manager, meanwhile, insists that captain Steven Gerrard has the strength of character to ensure he is not affected by the costly slip that played a part in their last meeting with Chelsea.

Gerrard's stumble allowed Demba Ba to race through and score just before half-time as Jose Mourinho's side gained a 2-0 Premier League win at Anfield in May.

The defeat took the destiny of the league title out of Liverpool's hands, and they ultimately failed to end a 24-year wait to be champions of England.

Gerrard attracted mockery over the incident, as he had been captured on the pitch after a 3-2 win over Manchester City three weeks earlier gathering his team-mates in a huddle and telling them: "This does not slip."

Rodgers, though, feels it is a testament to Gerrard's strength of character that he is able to overcome such disappointments.

The manager said: "I think it shows you Steven's character. He's demonstrated that throughout his career.

"He's had hard moments in his career, and he always responds magnificently. It was just one of those unfortunate things. There was no blame.

"We had control of the game. It was just one of those unfortunate things. Ba runs through and scores.

"We did everything we possibly could in the game to score, but just couldn't make the breakthrough.

"But for Steven, there was certainly no blame. He was instrumental to our run last year, and how well we played, and he's a big character.

"He bounces back from that."

Asked if he had discussed the slip with Gerrard ahead of Saturday's game, Rodgers added: "No. I think that was more a thing for you guys. For me, Steven was brilliant.

"It was just an unfortunate thing that happened in the game."

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