Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has tried to play down the pressure on Daniel Sturridge as Reds striker edges nearer to his return to action.
Sturridge hasn't featured for the Anfield side since August after picking up successive thigh and calf injuries, but resumed training with the first team earlier this week.
Brendan Rodgers's men have struggled in the absence of last season's 21-goal striker, and while Carragher admits that Liverpool have not been at their best without Sturridge, he has attempted to dampen expectations on his former teammate.
He told talkSPORT: "You can't just expect Daniel Sturridge to come in and fire on all cylinders. He has been out for while so you don't want to put too much pressure on him, but it looks like it is down to him because there is not much else there at the moment.
"Hopefully, when this international break is out the way, we will start seeing the real Liverpool. It will be a different Liverpool to last season, for obvious reasons - Luis Suarez going and the new players coming in – but we have to start picking it up because before you know it Southampton might even be too far ahead, never mind the other top teams."
Liverpool travel to Crystal Palace after the international break on November 23.
Paul Gorst
