LIVERPOOL MANAGER Brendan Rodgers has claimed Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez are similar to Bayern Munich’s frontline.
Sturridge has started the 2013/14 season in blistering form with seven goals in eight matches in all competitions for Liverpool, while Suarez, who missed the opening six games through suspension, scored twice in his opening English Premier League outing of the campaign.
After witnessing Bayern’s 3-1 victory against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, Rodgers said the Bavarians’ flexibility in the final third was similar to the Liverpool forwards’ style of play.
“If you watched their (Munich’s) system last night, the right back and left back were going into midfield at times as well to go and join in,” Rodgers said.
“It’s just really wherever you can get superiority in the game. If I look at Daniel [Sturridge] and Luis Suarez; I call them nine-and-a-halves, they’re not straight up and down strikers. They like to move and they like to get in between.”
Rodgers said Liverpool were able to employ a similar style of play to the Bavarians due to the qualities of their players.
“The system is normally based on the characteristics of your players, so for us we’ve tried it,” the 40-year-old Northern Irishman said.
“I’ve looked at it a number of times last season with Daniel Sturridge through the middle and Luis Suarez just off as a number 10 but he’s not a number 10.
“He’s more midfield or an attacking midfield player type and playing one of them off the sides. “I think it just gets better the longer they play with players or goalscorers, there’s no question about that.”
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace, Rodgers was also complimentary of Simon Mignolet, saying the goalkeeper would play an integral part in Liverpool’s season.
“Any good team always has a top goalkeeper and he [Mignolet] made two great saves last week,” Rodgers said.
“I’ve said at the beginning of the season that he’s going to be very very important for us. He’ll save us points this year.”
