Brendan Rodgers has hailed Daniel Sturridge as one of the finest strikers in Europe after the Liverpool star marked his return from a lengthy layoff with a goal against West Ham United.

Sturridge marked his first appearance since August with the second goal as the Reds eased past the Hammers 2-0 on Saturday.

Rodgers told the club's official website: "I think you've got a genuine top European talent in Daniel Sturridge. If you put him onto the field, everyone knows his pace and that will always frighten teams.

"A back four when you put Sturridge on, the power that he has and that ability to go either way which you see from the goal, that came taking a great touch on his weaker side and a wonderful finish.

"He lights up this team. He provides the light. When you add a top-class player like him to it, you can go to another level. When he came on in that period the team looked very, very good."

Liverpool travel to Bolton Wanderers in an FA Cup fourth-round replay on Wednesday.