Brighton vs Liverpool

Amex Stadium

KO: 12.30pm

BT Sport

November 28th of 2020

Looking ahead to Liverpool’s lunchtime game against Brighton; I thought I would focus on doing another player profile as a match preview; the immediate connection for this kick-off is of course Adam Lallana; who joined the Seagulls this summer, and is set to play against his old club Liverpool, this weekend.

The 32-year old joined Liverpool following the conclusion of the 2013-14 season, with Brendan Rodgers identifying him as a highly-rated attacking midfielder. For the Reds, he was a priority target; so, in 2014 Lallana joined Liverpool, for a £25 million pound price tag, and at the time believed to be, the second most expensive signing in the club’s history.

The ex-Southampton player is well regarded by the Red faithful for his 178 appearances, and 22 goals for the club, following his arrival on Merseyside. Lallana joined Liverpool at a time when we needed a player of flair and touch, someone who could unpick a tight defence with vision and creativity.

Lallana brought all of this to a Liverpool team, which found itself once again in transition under Rodgers, yet he wasn’t just a flair and touch player. He had real steel, a great work rate, and stamina. Although during his time with the Reds,he was plagued with various injuries that restricted his appearances and goals for the club.

He proved in the early Klopp era, to have the ability to adapt and often led the charge in the closing down of that ‘heavy-metal football’ that Klopp is renowned for. It is normal, for the touch of players to go missing, when the heavy work has to be done. This was never the case with Lallana, and he was not afraid to put-his-foot-in to secure midfield dominance for the Reds.

In the later years at Anfield, Lallana found himself as more of a squad player, yet he stepped up time and again. One of my greatest memories of him in a Liverpool shirt, has to be his equaliser at Old Trafford in last year’s championship season.

He came on as a substitute with Liverpool trailing 1-0 away to Manchester United. With five minutes remaining, he got on the end of an Andy Robertson cross, tapping in to earn the Reds a big point. This was his first goal for the club since May 2017, and what a goal it was.

His goal at Old Trafford will live long in the memory of any Liverpool fan and embodied the player, that Lallana is; coming on from the bench in the last quarter to have the vision and touch to score an all-important equaliser that kept the momentum of a historic season.

With his contract expiring on the 1st of July this year, there was concern that Lallana would miss the extended end of the season. He was, however, given the short extension, allowing him to receive a Premier League winners’ medal.

It was only right on the celebrations at the end of the season, that his close friend and Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson insisted that Lallana join the team and get recognition for the years of quality service delivered by a quality player; who for me deserves all the plaudits and the right to wear his Premiership winners medal with pride.

On the 27th of July 2020, it was confirmed that Lallana had left the club after six years, moving to the south coast.

I think any Reds fan would wish him nothing but success in his future endeavours!

Finally, ahead of the game, I’m looking for an immediate response from Liverpool following a rare Anfield mid-week defeat in the Champions League. A victory at the Amex would ensure Klopp’s men remain top of the Premier League table, at least on points, at the end of the weekend’s fixtures.

A victory and three points is the only option for Liverpool today!

COME ON THE REDS!

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