Daniel Sturridge is not the same player he was when playing alongside Luis Suarez at Liverpool, according to Jamie Carragher.
Sturridge, who has started only 27 Premier League games out of a possible 120 in the last three years at Liverpool, was given a rare start at Newcastle on Sunday but turned in a lacklustre performance as Liverpool continued their poor run of form - they have now only won one of their last seven matches.
Also read: Manchester United: Latest scans reveal no ligament damage to striker Romelu Lukaku
The England international wasted a golden chance to put Liverpool back in front at St James' Park but was denied by Rob Elliot before being replaced by Roberto Firmino.
It was a far cry from the type of performance we became used to from Sturridge back in 2013/14 as Liverpool almost won the Premier League title. Under Brendan Rodgers that season, Sturridge scored 24 goals in all competitions, which was the best scoring season of his career.
And Carragher fears the striker may never get back to that level after years of injury woes.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Carragher said: "Because he doesn't play much now, whenever we talk about Sturridge we keep going back to that season when Liverpool nearly won the league - he was devastating with Luis Suarez.
Carragher also suggested the striker does not fit into Jurgen Klopp's way of playing, especially when he is unable to find the net.
"He doesn't actually get involved a lot. The reason he is in the team is to finish chances," the ex-defender added.
"If that is Harry Kane, Morata or Lukaku, that is a goal and they are coming away with a 2-1 win. I don't think that player is there now, whether that's due to injuries or not playing enough. If Firmino is playing his normal level, then Sturridge doesn't play. Klopp doesn't fancy Sturridge, that's why he doesn't play."
Ex-Liverpool boss Graeme Souness was disappointed with his performance, according to the Mirror.
"He didn't take it [his chance]," Souness said.
"There was no cuteness in his game that you normally associate with him. I thought he looked laboured, he looked off the pace and I don't think he can train and prepare properly. That's maybe the single biggest reason why he keeps getting injury after injury.
"Today he looked like a player that hadn't trained properly and prepared for his opportunity. It might be a month or another six weeks before Jurgen Klopp goes with him again."
