Rio Ferdinand takes aim at Daniel Sturridge in latest Liverpool criticism

The former Manchester United star outlined a number of problems with Jurgen Klopp's side.

One of which, as we all know, is the over-reliance on Sadio Mane. Liverpool have won once in their last eight outings and this has coincided with the recent absence of the Senegal international who has spent the last month in Gabon participating in the African Cup of Nations. The 24-year-old has been an integral part of everything that has been good about Liverpool this season, producing 10 goals and six assists in 24 starts for the club in all competitions. Luckily enough for Liverpool fans, Mane will now be reporting back to Liverpool as Senegal were knocked out of the African Cup of Nations by Cameroon via a penalty shootout in which the man in question missed a spot kick. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/825478750406078464 Rio Ferdinand, in his column for the Sunday Times, outlined his displeasure over the fact that the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi failed to take their opportunity in Mane's absence.

"Now is the time for the likes of Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge to grab the bull by the horns, come to the fore and say: “This is what I can do.” Mane’s absence was a big moment for both those players and so far they’ve disappointed."

Ferdinand takes particular annoyance with Sturridge, citing how the player has promised so much but has yet again failed to deliver when his team really needs him.

"....teams need players they can rely on every week. I look at him, sitting there as Liverpool’s third-choice striker, not even coming on as substitute half the time, and his abilities are so much greater than that. This is his moment, his time to grab it."

The former Manchester United defender discusses how he is bothered by the fact Sturridge will always reference his goal ratio when he should, in fact, be doing his talking on the pitch like Ferdinand's former teammates such a Christiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy. It remains to be seen whether Sturridge will provide Ferdinand with evidence to the contrary. With Mané expected to be available for Liverpool's crucial home clash with Chelsea on Tuesday, Sturridge's chance may have already passed him by.