For all the concern that Suarez's departure has elicited amongst Anfield observers, Liverpool had to cope without him at the beginning of last season thanks to the misbehaving striker's last long term ban. That the team not only coped, but even flourished during that period was down to the impressive run of form from Daniel Sturridge. Sturridge netted 21 times in 29 Premier League games last season and, in the absence of Suarez, his goals will be even more vital to Liverpool's hopes of challenging for the title once more this year. Sturridge will want to get off to a good start tomorrow and make up for a slightly disappointing World Cup campaign in which the pacy striker scored England's first goal and nothing more. Standing in his way this weekend is fellow England international Fraser Forster. Playing for Celtic, Forster proved virtually unbeatable against some of the best in the world in the Champions League. His heroics against Barcelona and AC Milan prove that Forster can keep out the best of them, however his three back to back Scottish league titles haven't seen him facing top level forwards week in week out before. When the former Newcastle keeper appears in the Saints goal it will in fact be his first Premier League appearance, Southampton can only hope he can deliver the kind of performances he gave in the Champions League every week.
