Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has claimed that Daniel Sturridge can blossom into one of Europe's best strikers in the absence of Luis Suarez.

The former centre-back believes that Sturridge's progression was stunted somewhat by Suarez's presence in the Reds side last term, despite the players plundering 52 goals between them.

He told the Anfield Wrap: "I know with strikers there's sometimes a little bit of a jealousy thing there, if someone's scoring. I felt for him at times. I think he got the rough end of the stick at times with him and Suarez.

"I'm not saying they never got on, but they both wanted to be the main man scoring. Now there's no doubt he's the man.

"Think of the ability he's got to get goals: He's got class, he's got pace, he scores all sorts of different goals, he's cool when he's going through on goal, he's England's main striker now and he could be one of the best in Europe."

Sturridge finished second to Suarez in the Premier League's scoring charts last term after hitting 21 goals.