Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has had a good start to his life as a Reds player under new manager Jurgen Klopp’s regime. The England international has started in both Klopp’s first two games in charge, against Tottenham last weekend and Rubin Kazan Thursday night, and turned in an impressive performance against the Russians in the Europa League.
The 27-year-old, who joined the Reds last summer from Southampton, has seen his Liverpool career marred by injuries but now has seemingly found a new lease of life under the new regime. And Lallana new-found confidence on the pitch is permeating off the pitch as well.
In a season written off by many as another of Liverpool’s transition seasons, Lallana is upbeat about the Reds’ Champions League qualification chances. Liverpool are currently four points adrift of fourth place, currently occupied by West Ham, and Lallana believes his team aren’t in a bad position as the managerial overhaul suggests and feels their top four chances this season are “massively realistic.”
“We’re not in a bad position. The manager has changed. Usually that happens when you are bottom of the table, but we are in the middle, so we know we have got to put a run together to get in the top four. That’s still massively realistic for us this season,” Lallana told Sky Sports.
However, the midfielder is of the opinion that the Reds need their players back from injuries as European exertions coupled with domestic cup games require a larger squad to deal with. With main striker Daniel Sturridge still not fully fit, Lallana has urged the need for midfielders including himself to chip in with the goals.
“We are playing in the Europa League, and we have got domestic cups – we have got a few injuries at the minute so it’s important we get as many people back fit as possible. Then the manager can rotate if he needs to.
“We have been unlucky with injuries, but it means we have got to chip in with goals from midfield. That’s going to be vitally important,” he added.
Lallana is expected to start against his former club Southampton on Sunday. The Saints, who are level on points with Liverpool, will seek to dent Liverpool’s top four hopes for the season, but with the likes of Lallana buzzing and in form, it will be a difficult task for Ronald Koeman’s side.
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