Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has backed Daniel Sturridge to become one of the Premier League's top scorers this season.

Sturridge opened his account for the current campaign with the only goal of the match as Liverpool beat Stoke City 1-0 on Saturday.

The goal came despite Sturridge being a doubt to start to the match due to injury troubles over the summer, but Rodgers revealed that the England international's early return is down to his positive attitude.

"I think the biggest credit you can give him is that in all the time he was off, he never put on any weight whatsoever. His body fat remained the same as when he was playing, which shows you how hard he was working," Rodgers told the club's official website.

"And I have to give credit to the medical team, because they've got to make sacrifices as well. Daniel was keen to get himself right, so he was ready to fire at the beginning of the season. For a bit of time it was touch and go, but once we saw his progress and how he was working, he was back probably three weeks earlier than what we anticipated, purely because of his attitude.

"I always believe he's got a goal in him. That's why we took him here. As long as he's on the field, he can end up being one of the top goalscorers in this league."

Sturridge has scored 12 goals in 17 games since joining Liverpool in January this year.