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Thommo: Sturridge was smothered
- Updated: October 18, 2016
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge was smothered by Manchester United, says Soccer Saturday pundit Phil Thompson.
The England international cut a frustrated figure for the Reds during a 0-0 draw with their fierce rivals on Monday Night Football, and was eventually replaced by Adam Lallana in the 60th minute.
He touched the ball just once in the opposition box and did not take a shot during his hour on the pitch, touching the ball in total just 22 times.
But former Liverpool captain Thompson believes it was the system rather than Sturridge himself that contributed to the performance as United kept him quiet.
“I thought it was extremely difficult for him to function. I thought he was smothered,” the pundit said.
“In a 4-2-3-1, he was isolated up front and it was very difficult to get into the game, with Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly doing a very good number on him.
“It was …
