Daniel Sturridge: Central switch has proved pivotal

The former Chelsea star has scored 17 goals this season, and 28 in 35 games since moving from the Londoners this time last year.

And Sturridge, who looks certain to be part of England's squad for the World Cup in Brazil this summer, is convinced manager Brendan Rodgers' decision to use him 'where he is most effective' is the main reason for his stunning goals return.

Speaking to Liverpool online magazine Anfield Wrap, he said: "I was never sure if I'd play as a striker at Chelsea because people didn't believe in me.

"I was often asked to play in a different position and to do a job for the team but, having been a striker and then being asked to just flick a switch and play on the wing was always going to be difficult, because mentally you're going to play the way you always have and I play on instinct.

"I think that now I'm just playing the way that I did as a kid but I'd never had the chance to do that. When I was playing as a winger at Chelsea I was overthinking it because I wasn't used to doing it.

"It's about that split second when you have to decide whether you do this or do that whereas now I'm just playing on instinct.

"I'm just doing the natural thing, playing my natural game and doing things off the cuff. Like the goal against Aston Villa, it happened so fast that I had to watch a video of it afterwards to see what I'd done."