Liverpool legend Graeme Souness says Daniel Sturridge's work rate is the reason why he has not always been a regular in Jurgen Klopp's starting XI this season.
Sturridge scored twice as Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the EFL Cup fourth round on Tuesday but has often been limited to a place on the bench in the Premier League, starting just four games in the division this term.
While Souness was impressed by Sturridge's performance against Spurs, he says the England international needs to improve his all-round game if he wants to feature more regularly for the Reds.
"The best team won," Souness told Sky Sports. "I think Daniel Sturridge alone had eight shots on goal. Divock Origi and Sturridge were the difference today, and the best team are going through.
"But you can see why he's not in the starting XI here. Klopp wants to play high-pressing, high-tempo. You have to be very fit and you have to be willing to run around.
"When you look at Sturridge, the first thing you see is his ridiculous technique. He's as good as anybody. The second thing you see is that you would never describe Sturridge as busting a gut.
"He's got wonderful qualities, but unless he can find that energy at this stage of his career, he's not going to be a starter here."
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp also had words of advice for Sturridge, saying that the striker needs to perform like he did against Tottenham more often.
"When the team was named, he was probably thinking, 'Have I got to play tonight?'" Redknapp said. "There are other players like Roberto Firmino who are ahead of him in the pecking order. But all he can do is do what he's done tonight.
"Play well, show a great attitude and score goals. He's a special talent. We're talking about one of the best forwards in the world on his day. That's how good he is.
"He needs to do it more often. I love the second goal, and with his pace, he's got to be running in behind defenders more. The last thing you want as a defender is to be running the other way as Sturridge comes through.
"For the first goal, you can't teach that anticipation. You cannot teach that. Robbie Fowler had it. Ian Rush had it. They just smell it, know something might happen."