On debut for tribalfootball.com, Liverpool Ladies signing Amanda da Costa discusses Danny Sturridge's instant impact at Anfield, her own feelings about signing for a club of Liverpool's history and her admiration for Reds captain Steven Gerrard.
Many believe Danny Sturridge has to be pinching himself over the way he's kicked off his Liverpool career. Three goals in his first three games to place him alongside a Reds great like Ray Kennedy is the stuff of dreams. But I reckon the transition from Chelsea was never going to be as difficult as some were predicting.
He has a few weeks on me. I only joined Liverpool Ladies last week and made my debut on Sunday against Manchester City. It was great to get on the pitch in the 3-0 win - a perfect start to the preseason!
Danny Sturridge is a fantastic talent. His understanding of the game is so natural, that it seems to make the burden of moving clubs almost nonexistent. It is never easy going into a completely new environment with so many unknown variables, but it is also a very empowering feeling! Your first moments in a new club are the most exciting (in my opinion) because you are allowed to be any type of player or person that you want.
Anything that has ailed you in the past can be erased, and for a player like Sturridge, a certain standard has been created for himself that is really exciting looking onward in his career with Liverpool.
He and Luis Suarez have combined like they've known eachother for years.
The duo have proven to be very dangerous early on in their 'relationship', and it is exciting to watch it develop in the run of play.
There are times when you get to play with a player and it just clicks; there doesn't need to be any explanation of how or why it happens, but sometimes the pairing just works. I think that the intelligence in Sturridge's play and his movement off the ball enables Suarez to be a better player.
Similarly, Suarez's tenacity and creativity are playing to Sturridge's strengths of getting behind the back line. While Sturridge has definitely laid a solid foundation for himself, I'll be interested to see how he continues to develop.
Personally, signing for a club with the history and culture of Liverpool is an ambition fulfilled.
Playing overseas is something that has always been on my radar. I've played for the past two years in the United States women's league, but as a footballer you can't really beat the opportunity to be immersed in the culture of it all. A Club with the history and standard of excellence like that of Liverpool sells itself, and I am honored to be here.
It's funny because my last roommate in the 'States was a tremendous Liverpool fan being from the area. When I first moved in to the house, there were posters and signs everywhere! (All of this was long before playing for this club was even on my radar) Every match day, my roommate would throw a Liverpool jersey at me and make me wear it for good luck while chanting, "You'll Never Walk Alone"! I laughed about it then, but now it's actually a part of my life.
I have yet to explore the history of the club and am eager to visit Anfield and experience a match first hand. I heard it is an incredible experience, and I am looking forward to checking it off the rather long list of things I have to do while I am here.
Being a midfielder, I've always followed the game of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard closely.
For me it is one of those things where I look at his statistics in a match, such as the victory over Norwich City, and see a 93% passing accuracy. As a central midfielder, I look at a statistic such as this and it allows me to take a closer look at my training and matches to find what adjustments I can make to even come close to the caliber of Gerrard's distribution.
Numbers aside, the biggest thing I take away from watching Gerrard is his leadership. Seeing what Gerrard does for the club off of the field, and observing the way he interacts with his teammates on the field, is something that really amazes me.
I think the way he carries himself says a great deal about his character and his passion for Liverpool FC, and that is something that speaks louder to me than any other statistic. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest leaders in the game, and there is no wonder why he was recently honored by the Football Writers Association.
This is why I've decided to make the move to England.
The decision was based solely on what I needed for my development as a player. A club that has been established for as long as Liverpool is a rare find in the women's game, and it would have been foolish to pass up the opportunity. I know that by my being here, I have put myself in the best position to grow as a player and be the best I can for this team.
Follow Amanda: @ADacosta13.
