Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge has revealed his eagerness to strike up a partnership with teammate Mario Balotelli.

The pair have played together just once since Balotelli's £16m move from AC Milan - the 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur back on August 31.

Sturridge has been absent with successive thigh and calf injuries since the Spurs victory, but is looking forward to teaming up with the Italian upon his return.

He told talkSPORT: "Once I get back fit I'm hoping we can strike up a partnership. Last season with Luis [Suarez] we had a great relationship up front and scored a lot of goals. Hopefully this season it will be the same.

"It's not hugely important to be friends to have a great [football] relationship with somebody, and if you're not friends you can still have a great partnership, but you can also be friends and have a great partnership."

Balotelli has scored two goals in 12 appearances since his move from his homeland.