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Daniel Sturridge set his sights on joining Liverpool FC's pantheon of legends after penning a new five-year contract.

The 25-year-old striker has been rewarded for the huge impact he has made since his £12million move from Chelsea in January 2013.

Sturridge has already plundered 36 goals in 52 appearances and he hopes to stay around long enough to ensure that one day he's mentioned in the same breath as club icons like Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler.

“Every player wants to be recognised as one of the best to have played for their club,” Sturridge said.

“It's going to be a difficult task because there are so many who have done it before and there'll be so many who do it after.

“The fans have had songs for Kenny Dalglish and they still live on.

“The same with Robbie Fowler. Even at away games, sometimes you'll hear them singing songs about Ian Rush.

“Luis Suarez's song was always sung last season, so hopefully I'll have a song one day as well. And not just a song, to go down as one of the best players is always great.

“I'm just grateful to God for everything that has come my way. I'm humbled by it and I'm thankful.

“It's a big, big day in my life to commit to this club and to give the club my best years which are ahead of me. It was an easy decision.”

Sturridge, who is nearing fitness after missing the past month with a thigh strain, paid tribute to manager Brendan Rodgers for helping to transform his career.

Some doubted the wisdom of signing the former Manchester City youngster 21 months ago after he had endured a frustrating three-and-a-half year spell at Chelsea.

But Rodgers' faith in Sturridge's ability has been richly rewarded.

“With the opportunity he has given me, with everything that has gone on since I've been here, I've improved as a footballer and also as a guy from working with him and having a working relationship with him,” Sturridge said.

“You can always improve as a footballer and you have to be willing to learn. That's the kind of person I am and the manager has helped me to improve so I am grateful.

“Since I've come in here, he's put his faith in me and played me in a central role which I've always been asking for throughout my career.

“This is something I've always dreamt of in terms of playing week in, week out at a big club and having great team-mates around me, with a fantastic manager. The playing style suits the way I play.

“I'm very grateful for it because before I was here, I was at Chelsea and I was in and out, and I wasn't getting opportunities.

“To come here and play, to have the fans behind me, people believing in me and giving me an opportunity, it's a great feeling.

“I just want to be able to repay the fans, repay the management, repay the club and everybody that is behind me and the team.”

Sturridge, who boasts the best goalscoring ratio by a Liverpool player over his first 50 matches since George Allan in 1896, also revealed how working with top sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters has helped him with the mental side of the game.

“I'd never seen anyone like him before, but seeing someone like him is another thing that helped,” he said.

Watch: James Pearce discusses Daniel Sturridge's new five-year contract

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“It was something the manager suggested I do. I wasn't really for it at the beginning but after a while I thought 'why not? I'll give it a go' and it helped.

“There are a lot of things I'm happy with but there is a lot to come.

“I've not shown yet what I can do. I may have had some good games and scored some goals, but literally this is the beginning in terms of what I can show.

“I am looking forward to the hard work, the training, the games and everything.”

Sturridge has developed a close bond with Liverpool fans since moving to Merseyside and he's determined to give them silverware to celebrate over the coming years.

“I'm used to the city now and the fans have been great with me. I just want to let them know that I am one of them,” he added.

“When everybody meets me, they realise that I always like to stop and have banter with the fans in the street. I am one of them - I am a normal guy, I'm humble.

“Without them, football wouldn't be the same. I'm grateful to them for all they've done and all they'll do in the future for me. I hope we can enjoy some success together in the future.

“We were so close to success last season and it was a bitter pill to take not winning the league, but that's just a taster of what the fans will get. Hopefully this time we'll have the trophies to show for it.

“Everyone is very obsessive in terms of wanting success and being winners. That's what we are - that's the Liverpool Way. The way the manager wants us to implement his style, his football.

“I think we will have success in the future and I'm just looking forward to those days when we'll be lifting trophies and celebrating.”