Following his two goal Derby heroics on Tuesday night, Daniel Sturridge explained the absence of his trademark 'wriggly arm' celebration by insisting that he just wanted to 'look at the Everton fans and let them realise what time it is'.
Sturridge came off the bench to score a late equaliser at Goodison Park in a 3-3 draw earlier in the season and immediately raced towards a group of Everton fans who had been giving him stick whilst warming up and gave them the 'wriggly arms' treatment. However, after twice finding the net in front of the Everton fans in the Anfield Road end during Tuesday night's 4-0 win, his now trademark goal celebration was conspicuous by its absence.
Speaking to LFCTV after the game Sturridge explained: "It's coming back, but you have to make them want it, no? It's not a given! It will be back, but sometimes you have to just chill out, look at the Everton fans and let them realise what time it is!"
On the win itself, he added: “It was fantastic for the boys. We wanted to put on a performance for the fans, for the team, for everyone and obviously we’re delighted with it. Of course I am a bit disappointed not to score a hat-trick because that really would have been the icing on the cake. But at the same time we have won 4-0 at home against Everton, so really I can’t be too down on myself.
The game ended on a slightly sour note for Sturridge personally when he was substituted after incurring the wrath of his manager and team-mates when his quest for a hat-trick began to hinder the team. Having already missed a penalty, the striker then opted to go for goal when he had Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho in much better positions, prompting Suarez in particular to throw a hissy fit of epic proportions.
Sturridge admits his team-mates were right to be angry with him; “When I missed that chance Luis was obviously fuming with me at the time, and I don’t blame him, I think everyone was fuming with me. I was fuming with myself too. You could see I was still disappointed when I came off because obviously I was also disappointed with missing a penalty at the Kop end. But really the most important thing was the game and the result, and in the end everyone was happy with that.”
Despite his second half indiscretions, Sturridge was given a rapturous ovation as he left the field and has become a big crowd favourite since joining the Reds from a Chelsea a year ago. He says the feeling is mutual. “The love I have for this club just grows and grows more and more each day and I can only thank the fans for embracing me in the way that they have.”
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