Jurgen Klopp deployed Adam Lallana at the base of his midfield yesterday, with Liverpool running out 3-1 winners against Brighton in our second pre-season friendly of the summer.
The Englishman performed admirably, and for Liverpool’s manager – it will be an option he’ll regularly consider this coming season.
“Adam is the kind of player he can play that and he enjoys this ‘Jorginho’ role – I hope (former Chelsea boss) Maurizio Sarri doesn’t see the games or he will make an offer!” Klopp told the Echo after the simple victory.
“It is about getting Adam rhythm, bringing him in early and doing things he is naturally good at: small spaces, passing the ball, and then from time-to-time offering the runs in behind as well and together with Milly that is possible.
“For us it is another option.”
We quite like the idea, actually. Lallana isn’t so effective in offensive positions anymore, because he has no pace whatsoever, and our attack is based on dynamism and bursting runs.
But there are no doubts about his technical skills, his ability to control the ball in tight areas and retain it.
In this respect, the deep-lying playmaker role suits his current attributes, aged 31.
The only issue is that in Fabinho, we’ve a holding midfielder who’ll likely fill the spot nine times out of ten.
Jordan Henderson can also play the no.6, but we predict he’ll be more often used in one of the box-to-box spots either side.
Still, it’s fantastic for Klopp to have so many options – and we’ll be interested spectators this summer in regards to Lallana’s performances in his new position.