Henderson expecting big things of Lallana

For the princely sum of £25 million, you’d be more than within your rights to expect a player to make a big impact at the club, and considering Adam Lallana came with a growing reputation and two seasons in the Premier League Liverpool fans were hoping for big things from Lallana last season.

Sadly, all we saw were flashes of the brilliance that he’d demonstrated for 4-5 seasons at Southampton, through League 1, the Championship and then bringing his own brand of English flair to Europe’s top league. Injury played a part, of course, as did his manager’s inability to settle on a position for the player, or a formation to fit him into.

This season has to be the one for Lallana though, he’s had 12 months to settle in and now his contributions need to be very telling but his captain believes that Lallana will deliver this season. Speaking to LFCTV GO, Henderson said: “Last pre-season he got an injury so he didn’t really have a good pre-season under his belt and when he came back he was always trying to fight and get back fit and he then picked up one or two niggles during the season.

“I felt a bit sorry for him last season but Adam is a top, top player. He’s got great quality and he’s got great knowledge of the game.

“He’s a good lad as well and I’m sure he will work really hard this pre-season and come the first game of the season I’m sure he will be flying.

“I’ve told him that I’m expecting big things from him this season!”

There is absolutely no doubting the quality and technical ability that Lallana brings to the table, and if Liverpool can coax that out of him, then they’ve got a hell of a player on the club’s books but Brendan Rodgers has to get it right and employ tactics that ensures all of his most talented players are used to their fullest extent.

Can Lallana be a big player for Liverpool this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.