Lallana: We were not at our best but it is a point gained

Liverpool may have lost their perfect record to start the new season but they left Old Trafford with a deal of satisfaction after a late equaliser by Adam Lallana saw them claim a point on Sunday evening.

The Reds were far from their best during the majority of the contest, and it seemed like they were heading to a rather limp defeat at the home of their fierce rivals after Marcus Rashford had put the Red Devils ahead in the 36th minute.

However as Liverpool have shown many times over the past 18 months, they don’t need to play well to get the end result and again that was on show when Lallana popped up at the right time to convert a Andy Robertson crosss at the far post five minutes from time.

The visitors saved their best football for the final 10 minutes as Trent Alexander-Arnold and the impressive Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain went close with long range attempts.

Speaking after the contest, Lallana admitted the team were not firing on all cylinders, but it was an example that every player needs to play their role. Few would have used their bet365 app to take a punt on Lallana getting on the scoresheet, but the former Southampton man delivered when it was needed.

The Official site (via Sky Sports) reported Lallana as saying:

“If we're going to win the league and we're going to compete to take the title then we're not just going to need 11, we're going to need a squad. 

"The boss said just to make an impact, there were 25 minutes left. I thought Ox did extremely well when he came on." 

Despite the contrasting ladder positions of our two teams coming into this fixture, Lallana was never expecting a walk in the park.

"I think it is a point gained, we weren't at our best. People were saying it's probably going to be an easy three points for us, it shows it's never the case.

“Form goes out of the window in this type of game. It would be better to get the three points, but to come to Old Trafford and get a point in that manner, then we probably leave happier than United.

“We'd have probably taken that at the beginning of the season. We're still unbeaten this season, so huge positives considering we didn't play our best.

“We learn, we move on and we've got Genk in midweek now and then Spurs at Anfield on the weekend."

On a personal level, the goal meant a lot to the 31 year-old who has gone through plenty of emotions after dealing with a catalogue of injuries over the past few seasons.

While his value to the team has been questioned by some supporters, the manager still has full faith in the veteran and he went some way in repaying that with his first goal since May 2017.

“It’s been tough tough couple of years for me, so it’s pleasing. 

“I know my boy at home would have been watching and been delighted when that went in, so it’s a big moment."

The Rashford strike was tinged with controversy when a foul on Divock Origi was overlooked by referee Martin Atkinson and VAR followed suite.

Liverpool players were understandably seething and Lallana said the whole video replay system is still a work in progress.

"VAR? I’ve not seen it back, it just seems a bit messy at the minute, I laugh and joke with the lads and say it’s similar to cricket in that they just stay with the umpires’ call.

“They just back the referee no matter what the margin of the foul. 

“The refs visited us, and said to us its a work in progress, it’s not perfect it’s going to take time, and that seems to be the case at the moment.”