Brendan Rodgers hailed Daniel Sturridge after the England international joined the select band of strikers to score 20 goals in a Premier League season for Liverpool.
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caption:Daniel Sturridge continued his fine run of form against Sunderland.
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Sturridge struck in the 2-1 win over Sunderland, becoming only the fourth Liverpool forward -- after Robbie Fowler, Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez -- to reach the landmark in the Premier League era.
And with Suarez having already scored 28 times, it is the first time since 1963-64 when two Liverpool players have both reached 20 league goals.
It was Sturridge’s 30th league goal since his January 2013 arrival from Chelsea and came in his 37th appearance, making him the quickest Liverpool player to the milestone in 119 years, since George Allan in 1896.
Manager Rodgers said: “It is a wonderful achievement from Daniel. Since January when he came in he has been exceptional. He probably wasn’t at the top of his game [in the first half] so it was nice he comes out and gets his goal. Brilliant.
“Him and Luis, I don’t see them as a pair, they are both soloists, they have different qualities. Long may it continue that they carry on scoring goals.”
Rodgers also felt it was an “incredible achievement” as Liverpool recorded seven successive league wins for the first time since 2006 to go second in the table.
He added: “Seven wins in a row is incredible at this level where teams are so competitive. It is a huge credit to the players.
“I felt this second part of the season we would become stronger because of the nature of our game. Tonight there were long spells where we were very good. As the season goes on, we will embrace the pressure and enjoy it.”