Is Daniel Sturridge the Premier League’s best substitute?

After his remarkable strike against Chelsea and his fantastic influence overall against Chelsea, we review whether Daniel Sturridge is the best ‘impact player’ in the Premier League.

85 minutes in it looked like Liverpool had no chances left. Shaqiri’s angled effort drifted wide, and Mane’s earlier strike was denied by the Spaniard Kepa Arrizabalaga.

After taking off James Milner, on came Daniel Sturridge. A player flying in form after scoring an acrobatic effort in midweek, he always gives an option in attack and is usually clinical, something the Reds’ were lacking during this game.

Cool and unfazed, Sturridge diminutively struck an absolute rocket in to the top corner from twenty-five yards out, to the dismay of Maurizio Sarri and his staff.

Is there many better from the bench in terms of impact that Sturridge in the Premier League? When fit, Sturridge would get in most Premier League’s starting elevens. But is there many, if any, better from the bench?

In history, you of course have the baby-faced assassin Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, defensive Dutchman Nigel De Jong, a linchpin of Manchester City’s maiden title win, sedulous striker Edin Dzeko, and the diligent Darren Bent. But currently, who would compete with Sturridge in this role? Here are five suggestions; let me know if you can come up with any others.

The player has to be known as a regular sub for their side, and has to have history of being an ‘impact player’.

1: Javier ‘CHICHARITO’ Hernandez (West Ham United)

The Mexican was a star signing for West Ham when he arrived in the summer of ’17, yet hasn’t really fired so far in Claret and Blue. But when he was in the Red of the Red Devils, Hernandez was well known as one of the greatest subs in not just the league, but the world. Inheriting the original super-sub role from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford, he relished the role just like the Norwegian, but has yet to surpass his amount of goals off the bench in the league.

2: Jermain DEFOE (A.F.C Bournemouth)

One of the League’s all time most underrated players, prolific poacher Defoe has punished from the start and off the bench for all the sides he’s played for, with 24 of his 162 goals have come from the side-line and he’s still firing well whilst nearing 36, although he is currently injured. Defoe is the league’s all-time top scoring substitute.

3: PEDRO Rodriguez (Chelsea)

Usually and maybe unfortunately placed behind the prolific Eden Hazard and tricky Willian, Pedro usually finds himself amongst the Chelsea substitutes nowadays. However he is arguably the best finisher at the club, perhaps behind the brilliant Belgian. The La Macia graduate is now a regular substitute, usually replacing Willian, and certainly has the class and experience to really change a game, whether that be by a change of intensity or with a goal.

4: Marouane FELLAINI (Manchester United)

The elbow-thrashing Belgium international has certainly one of the best and worst heads (for different reasons) in the Premier League. On the one hand he can win a header against some of the best and most towering defenders in the world, but on the other hand his head of hair is of quite grotesque semblance!

5: Olivier GIROUD (Chelsea)

The second top scoring sub in Premier League history, the bearded Frenchman one-hundred percent is underappreciated and lowly considered in status in comparison to greats of the Premier League. One of the best target-men around, not only does he bring men into play, but scores plenty himself. Whether he’s any better than Sturridge now nearing the age of 32 is another matter.

Who else would be in your subs list? Comment and share with your friends.