Hazard has a favor to ask Sturridge after two goals in two games against Chelsea

Like Eden Hazard, Daniel Sturridge scored in each of the two games between Chelsea and Liverpool this week and it may be a pretty tough task to try to rank those four goals in order of awesomeness. We may be biased towards Hazard’s solo effort to win the game on Wednesday, but Sturridge’s overhead kick in that game was no ordinary effort either, and the equalizer with just a minute to go last night may actually top them all. A ridiculous effort that seemingly came out of nowhere, to remind us once again of the talent contained within his unfortunately injury-prone body.

Afterwards, Hazard paid tribute to his former teammate, with whom he shared a dressing room for a half season in 2012-13, following an on-pitch embrace that caught the attention of journalists.

“I said to him that the goal was not bad, to be fair. He scored twice. One Wednesday and one today, like me. *wink* Maybe he try to be like me. But no, he’s a great player. I had a chance to play with him a bit at Chelsea. And I know he’s a fantastic player. He had a lot of injuries in the last few years, but when he’s on the pitch he can create a kind of goal like this. So I’m happy for him. I’m not happy for Chelsea, but happy for him.”

-Eden Hazard; source: BBC

Sturridge got off to an excellent start in his Liverpool career, scoring 35 goals in just 49 appearances in the first season and half. Best by a whole host of injury and fitness issues (not to mention Liverpool signing some of the most exciting attacking players in the league), Sturridge has managed just 28 total goals in the following four seasons, and even had to go out of loan last season to West Brom.

Having recently turned 29 years old, Sturridge is probably past his peak at this point but clearly retains that eye for goal that has earned him chances at Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool over the years. He’s off to an excellent start in limited minutes this season — now has 4 goals in all competitions.

Sturridge even saw it fit to not celebrate his goal in front of the same faithful who used to cheer him on at the start of this decade.

One can only hope he continues this form next weekend, when Liverpool take on Manchester City. It’s the least he could do to repay Eden’s kind words and the simply favor he’s asking: “Great goal ... just make sure you do it again next weekend!”