Daniel Sturridge: Liverpool Stronger Without Luis Suarez

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge believes his team will be better off without Luis Suarez and has backed the club's new signings to eclipse the Uruguayan's goal tally.

The England international was speaking in the wake of the Reds' 2-1 victory over Southampton at Anfield on Sunday, in which Sturridge scored the winner.

It was the 24-year-old's 36th goal in just 50 appearances for last season's Premier League runners-up but Sturridge believes he will not carry the burden of being Liverpool's source of goals.

"Of course there's pressure on me to get the goals now," he told Sky Sports. "It's important for me and the other lads to step up.

"It's important, as a collective unit, that we all provide the goals. As long as we score goals and defend well, we'll get the results we need.

"Raheem showed his cool head to finish today and he showed it throughout pre-season as well. I'm glad that he has continued the goalscoring into the season. As the manager says, he's improving all the time."

Suarez departed Anfield for Barcelona in a £75m move this summer but manager Brendan Rodgers is yet to buy a like-for-like replacement.

Instead he has spent almost £100m strengthening a squad that will also compete in the Champions League for the first time since 2010.

One player whom Rodgers is hoping can provide Liverpool with attacking flare is forward Raheem Sterling.

The 19-year-old scored 10 goals last season as he became a key part of Rodgers's set-up and played a part in the build up to Sturridge's winner against Southampton.

He revealed to Liverpool's official website he had set himself a goals target for the current campaign. "I can't share them but I've set myself targets and hopefully I can meet them this season," he said.

"I'm taking it step by step to continue my learning and development. Hopefully I can do my best. I'm looking forward to meeting my targets."