“Liverpool” EFL Cup semi-final against “Southampton”, “Sky Sports” journalist Adam Bate decided to take a look at how former “Saints” representative Adam Lallana became the most distinguished English footballer this season.
Returning to “St Mary's” stadium as a “Liverpool” player was a familiar sight. However, it is now evident that he is no longer the same player. Adam Lallana has changed.
Within “Southampton's” ranks, he played in more than 250 matches and they thought they knew his game very well. Here, the famous Cruyff turns with the ball became familiar to everyone. It was also known that Lallana is a 'good hour footballer' and then must be substituted.
In his last season at the South England club, Lallana sat on the bench in 19 “Premier League” matches. The following year, his first in the “Liverpool” ranks after the 2014 transfer, he played 75 minutes or more in just nine out of 27 league matches.
Things are different now. Under the demanding regime of Jurgen Klopp, he has crossed the 75-minute mark more than 10 times already this season. In addition, Lallana has become synonymous with endurance - in December, before London's “West Ham”, he recorded his best season performance by running 13.76 km and breaking his own record set before the “Leicester City” match.
He ran more kilometers than any other “Premier League” player on New Year's Eve, and he did it again two days later. Those who saw him younger may be surprised, but Lallana has proven that the knowledge about him is incorrect. He has become a completely different player for more than one reason.
“In the last 12 months, everything has turned upside down for him,” said Jamie Carragher. “He was Brendan Rodgers' purchase, which we doubted when he first arrived, but it can be argued that in the 12 months since Jurgen Klopp is here, he might be the best “Liverpool” player.”
It was always easy to enjoy watching Lallana play, but tangible evidence of his influence on matches was not always visible. Even when he played in the front three, his contribution in goals or assists regularly did not materialize.
In his first years in “Liverpool”, he scored five goals and made three assists in the “Premier League”. Last season was similar - four goals and six assists. In both years, in terms of how many minutes it took him to contribute directly to a goal, he ranked 79th in the “Premier League”. It was a kind of stability.
“There has always been such criticism,” added Carragher last month. “Does he do enough on the field? Does he make a significant impact? He has always been fantastic at dribbling between the penalty areas, looked great. But does he score that important goal?”
Now he does. It all started on the very first weekend when he put “Liverpool” ahead against “Arsenal” in London, and continued by scoring the first goal in games against “Hull City”, “West Ham”, “Middlesbrough”, and “Stoke City”. With his accurate shots in the England national team, he can already boast a double-digit number of goals.
But goals are not the only important thing. This “Premier League” season is also his best in terms of assists. With seven accurate shots and seven assists, Lallana is second only to Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez in direct goal contributions.
Watching the player's change is interesting because it seems that it was influenced by the 28-year-old's move deeper into the field. “I just think the change of position is important,” says Carragher. “He really plays deeper but scores more goals and makes more assists.”
Lallana feels so good with the ball that his inclusion in “Liverpool's” attacking play seems logical. He is also so energetic that he still manages to contribute to the attack itself - often dodging defenders into the penalty area late.
He ranks 10th in ball dribbles in the opponent's penalty area, but combines this with a more aggressive approach promoted by Klopp's style. He has taken the ball away from the safe group more times than any other player, except Paul Pogba.
Lallana does a little of everything. “It's his energy and he really stretches his leg,” explains Carragher. “In terms of technique, he's probably the best English footballer and can play with both feet, but now he also adds those things in the penalty areas.”
He is a player who has always had talent. However, at 28, the footballer seems to have reached a higher level. Adam Lallana has changed, and these changes are for the better.
