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Football

06th May 2016

Daniel Sturridge was left upset after a drugs test following Liverpool’s Europa league win

Lonely boy

Nooruddean Choudry

He probably deserves more than this.

Daniel Sturridge proved some of his growing critics wrong on the pitch on Thursday night by scoring the vital second goal against Villarreal, which essentially sent Liverpool through to the final of the Europa League against Sevilla in Basil.

The England international has struggled to hold down a first team berth in Jurgen Klopp’s side of late, and having been selected to start in the semi-final second leg at Anfield, he was even being criticised mid-game from some who complained about his lack of impact.

Liverpool v Villarreal CF - UEFA Europa League Semi Final: Second Leg : News Photo

Detractors were emphatically shut up when he finished with aplomb in the 63rd minute and celebrated with a combination of relief and delirium. As you would expect, he was mobbed by teammates as the Anfield crowd went wild in jubilation.

But following the final whistle, Sturridge’s celebrations were cut short as he was selected for a random drugs test by UEFA. That in itself was fine, but having provided his sample, he must have felt his teammates were the ones taking the p*ss.

The poor goalscorer returned to an empty changing room, having missed all the post-match revelry due to his regulation liquid deposit. The striker was moved to post a tongue-in-cheek Instagram video to express his disappointment at being so unfairly neglected.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFCqtE1HNTw/?taken-by=iamdanielsturridge&hl=en

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