With Roberto Firmino named on the bench following the eye abrasion he suffered the previous weekend, Sturridge was handed his first ever Champions League start for the Reds.
It was an opportunity the No.15 seized.
The striker’s 30th-minute opener in the 3-2 victory – a clinical header at the Kop end from Robertson’s cross – was the highlight of an industrious performance from Sturridge which showed the team-first ethic shared by every Liverpool player.
“Behind the scenes and at training we’re all hungry to go for starting places,” Robertson told Liverpoolfc.com after Firmino’s stoppage-time winner sealed three points to kick off Group C.