Daniel Sturridge Bashes "Lazy" Narrative Amid Growing Criticism

Though Daniel Sturridge has given Liverpool world class goal production ever since joining the club in January 2013 for a bargain £12 million fee, his injury issues and a nagging reputation of having a poor attitude have left him the subject of criticism by his own supporters.

When the striker implied his future could lie outside of Anfield this past week, people jumped on him and questioned his commitment to his craft.

In response, Sturridge has hit back with a very reasonable yet revealing explanation of just how much he cares about playing football at the highest level. It seems, based on his comments, that the belief that he has a poor work ethic is completely unfounded.

"For people to say, 'Oh he doesn't try enough or he doesn't want to be fit'... do you honestly believe I'd want to just be sat down picking up wages when I've dreamt of being a professional footballer ever since I can remember?" he said to the Mail. "I'm not here for a jolly-up. Liverpool, for me, is work. It's a job. It's something I take seriously and for anyone to question my integrity, it's disrespectful."

"The people who say those [critical] things should take a long, hard look at themselves and probably think before they speak," Sturridge added.

Perhaps this set of quotes, which paints a seemingly honest behind-the-scenes picture of his career motivations, will put to rest the prevailing narrative that has followed him since he was a youngster at Chelsea.