I might be wrong but sometimes it seems that that a lot of counter attacking is anticipation, positioning and balance.
Sturridge's goal.
He got there first because he timed his run perfectly. He had burst ahead on Koscielny's blind side when he was still looking which way the the ball was headed. You can see that when Koscielny starts bursting Sturridge is already ahead. There is also balance. Sturridge doesn't have to check his run to shoot. He just moves his body into shape just as he gets to the ball. In fact he managed to get the ball from his right onto his left foot by moving over the ball. He already knows where he wants to place the shot. And his head is up so he sees the keeper. Decisive. This is also something that Torres did very well.
Of course he has pace but is he faster than Agbonlahor, Carlton Cole or Ngog? I'm not so sure.