20 Most Important Players In The Premier League 2014/15

12. Daniel Sturridge

Plenty of players could be suggested, as the Reds look to try and push that inch further in order to match or better their excellent last league finish. The void left by the sale of Luis Suarez is a tough one to fill, given that the Uruguay international could muster up a goal as if from nowhere. Some interesting signings have come to Anfield, most notably Lazar Markovic, but the onus is on Sturridge to step up to the plate and deputise for his former teammate. The 24-year-old notched 21 goals last season as Liverpool secured Champions League football, with his maturity beginning to show. Direct, quick and easily able to beat a man, travelling to Brazil with England and experiencing a World Cup will only go further to settling his nerves and push his development further towards a cold-blooded clinical finisher. Unlike other goalscorers, however, Sturridge can receive the ball in deeper areas and drive forward, contributing to build up play and combining well with the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling. There is a youthful vibrancy to Liverpool's forward line this season, with Sturridge being one of the older weapons in the armoury, despite being merely midway through his career. If Brendan Rodger's side are to repeat their feats of last season in the league, while also competing on the European stage, Sturridge will have to be in lethal form.