Premier League: Duran, Onana fire Villa to winning start against West Ham
Aston Villa got their Premier League campaign off to a winning start with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against West Ham United – the club’s first result at London Stadium.
Struggling Premier League side West Bromwich Albion’s survival chances were given a major boost as they announced the signing of Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge on a half-season loan deal.
After humbling the Reds in the FA Cup on Saturday, the Baggies announced the major coup on Monday, two days before the transfer deadline shuts, to give their attacking department a sorely-needed fillip
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“England striker Daniel Sturridge has joined Albion on loan for the remainder of the 2017/18 Premier League season,” a club statement read.
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Sturridge, whose career has been blighted by injuries, joined Liverpool from Chelsea in January 2013 and had formed a deadly partnership with Luis Suarez in the 2013-14 season.
However, apart from the aforementioned season, the 6’2 striker struggled to deal with a raft of niggling injuries and kept coming in and out of the side. After Brendan Rodgers was sacked by the club, speculation was rife that incoming manager Jurgen Klopp would pack off Sturridge as well but the Englishman stayed put at Anfield.
Despite his obvious talent, a lack of work-rate, when compared to the likes of Roberto Firmino, prevented him from becoming a regular under the German tactician and Sturridge’s move to the Hawthorns might just give his flagging career a much-needed boost.
“I hope our fans can understand that we are fighting to stay in the Premier League, not just on the pitch but in the market place as well,” Baggies manager Alan Pardew stated.
With the 2018 FIFA World Cup just months away, competition to make Gareth Southgate’s England squad is immense, especially in the forwards department and at least now Sturridge has a fighting achance of being on the plane as he is likely to be the starting striker ahead of Jay Rodriguez and Salomon Rondon.
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