Former Liverpool player Ray Houghton believes that the team will struggle to turn their season around if they are without Daniel Sturridge for a lengthy period of time.

The striker has not played since August due to numerous muscle injuries, and it is believed that the 25-year-old has suffered another setback after picking up a thigh problem in training.

Reports have emerged claiming that the striker could miss the rest of 2014, which Houghton believes will hamper Liverpool's season as they try to improve on just four Premier League wins from 11 games.

"If Sturridge is out for any length of time, it's a major blow for Liverpool," Houghton told talkSPORT.

"Liverpool are now down to the new players coming in. You do fear for them against Crystal Palace [this weekend], both teams are desperate for a result. Liverpool need to get back to winning ways and you're not sure that they're going to."

The Merseyside outfit are currently 11th in the league table.