Liverpool August squad rankings: Sturridge falls, Mane rises
By Tom Bogert
4. Adam Lallana (up two places)
A box-to-box midfield role for Lallana is absolutely brilliant, especially in this Liverpool team that situates themselves so high up the field. It gives him the familiar confides of where he’d be located at attacking midfield for Southampton.
In a slightly deeper position, Lallana isn’t crucially relied upon for goals or assists. That was the biggest knock on him since joining from the south coast club: his end product for Liverpool.
Playing deeper, he gets to do Lallana things like mercilessly hunt the ball out of possessions and complete all the Cruyff turns his heart desires when on the ball. It’s a perfect situation for all.
That’s why the chief argument for sticking with the 4-3-3 even after Can returns, it seems to get the best out of the midfield. Of course, the 4-2-3-1 does the best job for the strikers so it’s an interesting debate to have.
While it may have taken a little while, Lallana has absolutely proved his worth at Liverpool, validating the fee needed to pluck him from Southampton.
Next: 3. Roberto Firmino