2016/17 Season Report Card: Adam Lallana

It seems like the most natural thing in the world now, but when the season started and Adam Lallana was in central midfield, it was seen as something of a gamble by Jurgen Klopp and there were a lot of question marks about Lallana’s suitability to the role.   

It was clear from the first game of the season at the Emirates though that he was born to play this position under this manager. Klopp deserves a lot of credit for the way he reshaped the team for this season. Last year he mostly played 4-2-3-1. Lallana was almost exclusively used out wide, James Milner was in the centre of midfield, Roberto Firmino was moved all over the forward line, often out wide, and Gini Wijnaldum was playing on the wing for Newcastle. 
 
Klopp made some decisions that appeared a little unorthodox at first. Milner was moved to left back, Firmino was asked to play as a centre forward, and both Lallana and Wijnaldum were asked to play deeper as part of a midfield three. Oh, and Jordan Henderson was turned into a deep lying “number six”. And guess what? By the end of the season every one of those decisions had been vindicated and - with the possible exception of Milner - it’s difficult to envisage those players playing anywhere else now. 
 
Lallana is probably the biggest success story as he was a revelation this season. Playing deeper suited him perfectly and you’ve got to credit Klopp for having the foresight to deploy him there. When you look at the line up we started the season with in that game at Arsenal, at the time it was staggering just how attack minded that team looked. Now it’s the norm and we’re used to it, but it’s still unlike anything that any manager other than Guardiola would do. 
 
It might be even more adventurous at times next season if Philippe Coutinho is used deeper, but if that happens it may be Lallana who occasionally takes a seat on the bench. That’s no bad thing, as he won’t be able to play twice a week and keeping him fresh is vital given his undoubted importance to the side now. 
 
He’s brilliant and he might actually be my favourite player not named Milner. I’ve always been a big Lallana fan, I even wrote an article about why we should sign him back when he was at Southampton. Six months later we did just that and I was buzzing about it, but it took a while for him to live up to expectations. Even when he was underwhelming I still enjoyed watching him though, as his technique, touch and balance are the best I’ve seen in any English player since John Barnes. 
 
That didn’t always translate into being an effective performer though and his first season here was disappointing. That whole season was a just a nightmare from start to finish though, for all concerned. It was the 12 month hangover from hell. Klopp’s arrival snapped us out of that though, and Lallana thrived as much as anybody. Finally he was able to start to justify his fee. 
 
It’s mad, but it wasn’t that long ago that the biggest knock on Lallana was a perceived lack of stamina. Then Klopp came in and Lallana simply hasn’t stopped running. In Klopp’s first game in charge Lallana ran around like Craig Johnston on speed and eventually collapsed, exhausted, into his manager’s arms after being subbed late on. 
 
Now he puts in tireless displays like that every week, and he’s become one of the most important players we have, probably second only to Mané in my eyes. We can get by without any of the others, even Coutinho, but take Mané out and we’re in trouble, and there’s a big drop off in performances when Lallana isn’t there too. 
 
The reason we miss him so much is because he brings things to the team that no-one else does as well. His pressing is second to none, not just in how he does it, but also when he does it. He grasped it from day one and Klopp described him earlier this season as “the team's hunter". 
 
There’s more to it than that though. His constant movement drags defenders all over the place and makes space for others. He’s especially adept at just sprinting forward ahead of the strikers. Even when the ball doesn’t come his way he’s stretching the opposition just by doing it and it’s been invaluable this season. And of course, he’s pretty damn good with the ball too. 
 
Up until the turn of the year I’d say it was a toss up between him and Mané as to who had been our best player, but I’d have leaned towards Lallana. He was the best midfield player in the league and it wasn’t even close. He scored goals, he created goals, he linked play, he ran further than everybody else. 

We played City on New Year’s Eve and then Sunderland two days later. Lallana covered more distance than anyone else in the league in both games, and he actually ran more in the Sunderland game than he had against City. So much for the questions over his stamina. 
 
Unfortunately he had three injury layoffs during the season, two of which were picked up on international duty. He missed ten games as a result of those. That’s not good, and we missed him big time. His second half of the season was disrupted by a hamstring pull that caused him to miss five weeks, and also because the loss of Mané screwed up the balance of the team. Lallana was still good but his numbers dropped and he scored only once in 2017 after bagging seven before new year. 
 
When we had our first eleven out there, Lallana was fantastic. He was so good that even my mum was forced to concede that he’s a good player. It didn’t soften her hardline stance towards him, she still hates him, but at least now she’ll concede he’s a good player. 
 
Why does she hate him, you ask? Difficult to say, I think it’s just one of those irrational things, whereby everything someone does just pisses you off. The most coherent answer I’ve had is “I hate his stupid whiskery face and the way he’s always running his fingers through his hair”. 
 
Now you know where I get it from, although in my defence I’m not usually like that with our own players. Except Loris Karius, sorry, #LK1, and his stupid fucking tatts and boyband haircut, I hate that tw… so yeah, like mother like son I guess.  

Best Moment: 
 
Loads of good ones but my personal favourite was the glorious piece of play in the build up to Wijnaldum’s stoppage time breakaway goal against Arsenal. The run out of defence, the awareness to turn and hold the ball up to allow Origi to get back onside, and then the pass to set him free. Just glorious. 
 
Worst Moment: 
 
The absolute sitter he missed in the 1-1 draw at City was bad, but I'd say getting injured on international duty was worse. Not really his fault, the blame lies with that peanut with teeth, Gareth fucking Southgate. 
 
Rating: 
 
8/10 It would have been a nine if he hadn’t kept getting injured. 
 
The Future? 
 
He’ll be a key player once again next year and I expect more of the same from him. Hell, he might even win my mum over if he keeps up the form he’s shown in the last 18 months.