Adam Lallana's excellent form has been a catalyst to Liverpool's recent resurgence
By Harry Hesp
Jurgen Klopp has indicated there will be changes at Liverpool this summer and until recently it looked as though Adam Lallana might be one of the names heading for the exit door - and not many Reds fans would have stood in his way.
But Lallana’s performances over the past month have been so impressive and full of fight that his name was belted out by the Kop after his man of the match performance in the recent win over Man City.
He’d missed a penalty against the same opponents in the League Cup final shootout just three days earlier but Lallana's confidence showed no signs of waning - scoring the first goal and setting up the third in a 3-0 rout. The following weekend he was arguably Liverpool’s best player in the last-gasp win at Crystal Palace.
In fact, along with Roberto Firmino he's been Liverpool's best player for the last month. The £23m-man’s resurgence coincided with his last-minute winner in the crazy 5-4 game at Norwich. He now has three goals and two assists in his last five league games.
There was never any doubt in the attacking midfielder’s ability or commitment - but that goal at Norwich was his first Premier League goal of the season - not good enough for an attacking midfielder. However, it seems to have been the catalyst to give him the much-needed confidence to utilise his obvious capabilities.
As former Liverpool man Jamie Carragher pointed out after his display against Man City: “There is no doubting Lallana has ability. What he did in midweek, with a goal and an assist, was provide an end product to his game, which even he has admitted has been lacking.”
Carragher went on to point out that if Lallana has a future at Liverpool then he must replicate that performance - he did, albeit without a goal or an assist, at Crystal Palace.
His unselfish running and boundless energy was the catalyst to Liverpool’s somewhat unexpected 10-man comeback at Selhurst Park - demonstrated by his unselfish 50-yard sprint that opened up space for a Christian Benteke chance in the 89th minute. Of all the Liverpool players it seems as though Lallana has bought into Jurgen Klopp’s pressing game with the most enthusiasm and vigour.
But endless energy can only get you so far. Lallana looks to have worked hard on that much-talked about ‘end product’. He's created 11 chances and has a higher pass accuracy that any other Liverpool midfielder in his last five games.
His work on the ball was excellent at Palace - his first touch has never been in doubt but this time he played decisive and assertive passes that started attack after attack - notching up a pass success rate of 91%.
He’s also formed part of a potent partnership with Firmino in recent weeks. The Brazilian’s movement seems to complement Lallana’s style of play and their fluid football with rapid one-two’s has been working well. He’s made himself undroppable - evident after he was given the nod over Philippe Coutinho at Palace.
Klopp has been excellent for Lallana - installing a self-belief that looked seemingly non-evident during his somewhat stagnating career under Brendan Rodgers: "What can I say about him?” says Klopp, “He's a great, great player. And for our game very, very important because he is a real lively, energetic player.”
Given his recent performances Lallana’s head must be turning towards Euro 2016 - he’s hitting form at exactly the right time and it’s almost a certainty that he’ll be included in Roy Hodgson’s England squad this summer.
A starting place could be out of reach in France - it’s more likely Hogdson will use him as an impact sub - but if he takes carries on in this rich vein of form then he will certainly have an impact.