Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge will thrive in 3-4-3 formation says Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says Daniel Sturridge will thrive in his 3-4-3 formation as soon as the former Chelsea striker regains full fitness.

After missing much of the first part of the campaign due to several injuries, the 25-year-old forward made his return to action during the 2-0 victory over West Ham United on 31 January, coming off the bench to score.

Sturridge has since only started one Premier League game in 2015, against Tottenham Hotspur, as well the FA Cup victory over Crystal Palace and the two Europa League encounters with Besiktas.

Rodgers has justified his decisions because Sturridge "is not fully fit yet" but suggested the player will be his main striker in the 3-4-3 formation sooner rather than later.

"Daniel is not fully fit yet and it is difficult for him because these are not training games for him to get fit," the manager said to Liverpool's official website.

"He's excited by the new system. Put a fully fit Daniel Sturridge into that system and it lights it up again. Come the end of this week, Daniel will be on a great run and able to play every game and be able to train."

Sturridge started the victory over Manchester City on the bench, coming into the game in the second half, as the manager believed he was not ready to play the whole match just three days after playing 106 minutes in the defeat against Besiktas.

However, it looks like the striker could have a starting role in the coming games, with Liverpool hosting Burnley on 4 March before their FA Cup tie against Blackburn Rovers on 8 February.

Rodgers said: "He wasn't quite ready for the Premier League so then we were trying to fit him in in games. The Europa League was a great chance to get some game time into him, but after five months out and with his history here, that was something we had to think of.

"The last thing we wanted to do was break him. He felt good on Sunday on the back of playing Thursday. He's very determined to play and when you see a fully fit Daniel, he will be brilliant."