Liverpool completed their 2018-19 season this past Saturday by winning the Champions League, the first title achieved during the Jurgen Klopp era. Now we’re into the Reds transfer window season and the first two official moves of the summer were made when Klopp confirmed the departure of two players acquired while his predecessor, Brendan Rodgers, was in charge.
Striker Daniel Sturridge, 29, and left back Alberto Moreno, 26, have seen their Liverpool contracts expired, and they’re now available to move on a free transfer.
Sturridge was the last remaining member of the “three Ss” front line, a fun to watch, high scoring trio (Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling were the other two) that took the 2013-14 Premier League title race down to the season’s final day.
That team, just like this one, finished runners-up to Manchester City.
“The most important words to say to these two remarkable players is: ‘Thank you,'” Klopp said to LiverpoolFC.com.
“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.”
Klopp extolled the virtues of Sturridge (105 goals, 306 appearances and one extremely unique and very memorable goal celebration dance with the club) and Moreno (three goals, 141 games).
“Alberto is a person whose personality is reflected in how he plays. Full of life, full of energy, always positive,” the German continued.
“How he was in training kept the entire group on their toes. 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.”
Sturridge and Moreno are most likely in line for very healthy salaries with their next clubs, as their next teams won’t have to spend any money on a transfer fee in acquiring them.
For Liverpool, they will embark on a three stop (Boston, South Bend, New York) preseason exhibition tour of the United States next month.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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