The midfielder is set to leave his hometown club at the end of the season for a spell in the USA with Los Angeles Galaxy.
But Three Lions striker Sturridge believes the 34-year-old will return to Merseyside in a different role in the future.
Sturridge has been back in training with Liverpool this month
"I think he'll be at the club in some capacity very soon and I'm sure he'll manage the club one day," claimed Sturridge, who admits he’s "devastated" that Gerrard is leaving.
"Words can't describe what he's done for Liverpool, as well as his country.
"He's still a role model of mine. I look up to him, I think everyone in the squad does.
"He'll be sorely missed - he's somebody who's given me a lot of experience and helped me to improve as a person and a footballer."
Sturridge himself is targeting a return to action this weekend, as Brendan Rodgers’ side take on West Ham United on Saturday.
The former Manchester City and Chelsea star has missed the last five months of the campaign with a thigh injury, but has been back in training during January and is pushing for a place in the squad for the game at Anfield.
"I've been champing at the bit," added Sturridge.
"I'm ready now - it's been a long time coming, but I am happy with how everything has gone and I am looking forward to it.
Sturridge picked up his thigh injury during training with England in September
"I won't hold back from anything."
Sturridge admits it hasn’t been easy for him watching on from the sidelines during his absence.
He spent time on his rehabilitation with specialists in Gerrard’s future destination during December before returning to England to finish his recovery this month.
And the 25-year-old is now itching for a Reds return to boost their hopes of a top four spot in the Premier League.
"I'm not a very good watcher," he revealed.
"I don't like watching too much but I had to. I watched every single match when I was in the States - I was getting up early doors in the morning, so sometimes it'd be 4am depending on where I was and what time the game was.
"I'd get up early and it was important for me to see how we played, the formations and the style of the new players.
"But it was hugely important [to go out there] and I am thankful to the guys over there who helped me out."
