Liverpool Football Club is delighted to confirm the signing of striker Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea.
The 23-year-old becomes our first signing of the January transfer window after penning a long-term contract at Melwood today.
Afterwards he told Liverpoolfc.com of his joy at sealing the deal.
"I am humbled and happy to be here," said Sturridge.
"Brendan Rodgers said he sees me here for a long time - and I also see myself here for a long time. I've not signed here to play for a couple of years and then move on.
"I've signed to be here for as long as possible. It's a humongous club - for me, one of the biggest in the world - and to have the fans and world-class players we have here is amazing."
Sturridge began his professional career at Manchester City, where he finished top-scorer as City lifted the FA Youth Cup in 2008.
Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge is due to have a medical at Liverpool today ahead of a £12million transfer.
Liverpool have agreed a deal with Chelsea for the 23-year-old England international and a £60,000 per week contract with the player.
Liverpool are desperate to bolster their forward line, with Luis Suarez their only fit out-and-out striker and boss Brendan Rodgers has been keeping tabs on Sturridge since the summer.
Liverpool cannot officially register any new signing until 2 January when the transfer window opens.
The former Manchester City striker has made seven league appearances for Chelsea this season, scoring one goal.
His last league appearance for the Blues was in the 2-1 defeat by West Bromwich Albion on 17 November.
Sturridge has not featured since Rafael Benitez arrived at Stamford Bridge, due to a hamstring injury.
Liverpool signed off from 2012 at Anfield with a 4-0 Barclays Premier League victory over Fulham on Saturday night.
Martin Skrtel's emphatic finish gave the Reds an early lead as he volleyed powerfully beyond Mark Schwarzer after controlling a corner in the box before Steven Gerrard doubled the lead before half-time with a neat finish.
Stewart Downing extended Liverpool's advantage by cutting into the box and firing into the Kop end net in the early stages of the second half.
Luis Suarez wrapped it up in stoppage time to send Brendan Rodgers' side into eighth in the table, just five points off third-place Arsenal.
The Reds went into the day's late kick-off aiming to bounce back to winning ways following last weekend's 3-1 Anfield reversal at the hands of Aston Villa.
Rodgers made a handful of changes in order to hand some of his stars a breather ahead of the hectic Festive period, meaning starts for the likes of Suso and Downing while Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen began on the bench.
Liverpool began the brighter of the teams and after Daniel Agger had headed over and Jonjo Shelvey's flick had caused panic in the box, Skrtel thumped them into an eighth-minute lead as he controlled Gerrard's corner inside a crowded box and lashed a volley into the back of the net.
January transfer window just twenty one days away from now. The rumour mill are back and news of every strikers in the Europe continent has been linked to Liverpool FC, yet again.
Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers will consider a move for Swansea centre-forward, Miguel Pérez Cuesta or short for, Michu if he misses out on top strike target Daniel Sturridge in January.
The former Rayo Vallecano striker has been prolific for Swansea City since his arrival in the summer and has already netted 13 goals in 18 appearances for the club. The centre-forward leads the Premier League scoring charts, ahead of Robin van Persie, Luis Suarez and Demba Ba.
Swansea manager, Michael Laudrup does not want to lose Michu and on Thursday claimed it would take a £30million bid to change his mind.
But even a more realistic bid of around £10million would represent a fine piece of business for a player who cost £2million just six months ago.
Brendan Rodgers knows he needs to bring in attacking alternatives and support for the Uruguayan but will surely face competition for Michu’s signature if Swansea show any willingness to listen to offers in January.
Michael Laudrup signed Michu within a month of taking charge of the Liberty Stadium side and clearly the Dane was aware of the former Rayo Vallecano man’s ability, having managed both Getafe and Real Mallorca in La Liga prior to moving to South Wales.
Michu is clearly enjoying life at Swansea but may feel that a high-profile move could aid a push for a senior Spanish national team call-up.
Liverpool's owners FSG have promised their manager the funds needed to push for a top four position and it looks as if a deal for Michu could materialise due to Rodgers relationship with his old club.
This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.
A James Collins own goal fired Liverpool into the top half of the Barclays Premier League table and clinched a thrilling 3-2 win for the Reds at Upton Park against West Ham.
Brendan Rodgers' men made it back-to-back wins in the league for the first time this season and leapfrogged above the Hammers - but they had to come from behind late in the game to do so.
Glen Johnson put them into the lead after just 10 minutes when he produced a goal-of-the-season contender from the edge of Jussi Jaaskelainen's penalty area.
Mark Noble slotted from the spot after Joe Allen was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area before Steven Gerrard turned a Matt Jarvis cross past his own 'keeper to give West Ham the lead.
However, Joe Cole struck against his old club to equalise and then Collins turned a Jordan Henderson cross into his own net to send the travelling Reds into euphoria.
All the build-up to the clash revolved around the absence of Luis Suarez, who was ruled out after picking up his fifth yellow card against Southampton, but his replacement Shelvey proved to be the hero of the hour.
Upton Park was on its feet on six minutes when Jarvis's cross was scrambled clear by Daniel Agger and Mohamed Diame fired the loose ball against Carlton Cole, who deflected it a yard wide of Pepe Reina's post.
The Hammers posed a real threat down the left flank with Jarvis, who was constantly keen to spin a deadly cross in behind Martin Skrtel and Agger and this would prove to be a real thorn in the Reds' side throughout the match.
Brendan Rodgers was left ruing a penalty that wasn't given as a Gareth Bale-inspired Tottenham prevailed 2-1 at White Hart Lane.
Bale scored one and set up another within 16 minutes before Liverpool launched a gallant comeback.
Steven Gerrard was denied a penalty and Luis Suarez had an effort cleared off the line before a Bale own-goal made it a tense final 20 minutes for the home team.
Andre Villas Boas' side hung on and the result leaves Liverpool 10 points away from the top four.
Rodgers named an unchanged side from that which drew 0-0 at Swansea on Sunday, and they were soon to find themselves behind. Bale had already tested Pepe Reina with a vicious free-kick when, on seven minutes, the Welshman whizzed beyond Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Joe Allen before directing a perfect cross towards an unmarked Lennon at the back post.
Liverpool seemed to respond well and Suarez was soon to be denied by Hugo Lloris from 18 yards. Henderson then missed an open goal from just outside the box - though he was under heavy pressure from Kyle Walker.
These are the moments which turn games and sadly for Liverpool they were soon to find themselves 2-0 down, again thanks to the brilliance of Bale. His eighth goal of the campaign came from a lashed free-kick on 16 minutes which appeared to take a deflection off the wall and totally wrong-footed Reina.
A dangerous Downing cross was missed by both Jose Enrique and Suarez, while Enrique had a snapshot on the turn saved after excellent work from Johnson.
[29 NOVEMBER, 2012] Warrior Football has officially un-caged its debut boot collection, Skreamer. Spearheading the range is the Skreamer Pro. Anatomically engineered on the pillars of power and lightweight agility, the Skreamer Pro is fuelled by a revolutionary design DNA making it swift and deadly on any surface.
The boot features a multitude of breakthrough technologies completely new to the football world.
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Implanted inside the Skreamer Pro is the unique Arrow Bed Insole, a design component that promotes optimal circulation under the foot while heightening tactile sensitivity. This is strengthened by the boot’s lightweight Thorax Exo-Skeleton cage that protects and shields the mid-foot during play. Engineered with a seamless internal construction system, the Skreamer Pro prevents internal abrasion by providing players with ultimate form-fitting comfort.
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For optimal traction on all playing surfaces, the Skreamer Pro is configured in both soft and firm ground sole plate options.
Global head of Warrior Football Richard Wright believes the Skreamer Pro is a game-changing boot.
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The Skreamer range has been launched in two key colourways: Blue Radiance/ Bright Marigold (Skreamer Pro) and Black/ Spicy Orange (Skreamer K-Lite), and is available in a number of specification levels.
The boot will make its official debut on the field of play in December when Warrior reveals a number of exciting player signings.
To learn more about the Skreamer Pro and wider Skreamer range, visit www.warriorfootball.com or click here to view the technical video.
January transfer window just twenty one days away from now. The rumour mill are back and news of every strikers in the Europe continent has been linked to Liverpool FC, yet again.
Brendan Rodgers was left ruing a penalty that wasn't given as a Gareth Bale-inspired Tottenham prevailed 2-1 at White Hart Lane.
