Southampton legend Francis Benali has discussed the possibility of Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana returning to the St Mary’s Stadium in the future.
The 30-year-old, who has amassed 156 appearances for the Reds, has struggled with injury problems throughout his time on Merseyside, but Benali has questioned whether a return to the Saints is a realistic proposition.
“It’s a difficult situation for him to get back in the team,” he told the Daily Star. “It’s a scenario that many players would find difficult. But what would be the tough thing is would the supporters welcome players [like Lallana] back to the club?
“It’s a relationship between the two clubs that has certainly spiked the nerves of Southampton fans with a lot of our top players leaving for Liverpool. I just like to see good, talented and passionate players that want to play for Southampton – playing for my team. However that happens, I’m quite open to anything.”
OPINION
Benali brings up a good point here. The relationship between Liverpool and Southampton has soured immensely in recent years, with the former regularly pilfering the latter’s best talent. It doesn’t help that many of the players who have made the switch from St Mary’s to Anfield have done so under something of a cloud. Lallana is someone who certainly falls under that category. He always had a phenomenal relationship with the Saints supporters, but he didn’t conduct himself in the best way amid Liverpool’s interest and the fans were glad to see the back of him by the end of it. So it’s unlikely that he would be warmly welcomed back on the south coast. As for whether the Reds will move him on this summer, that remains to be seen. The England international has missed so much football over the years that no one could blame him if they did, but Jurgen Klopp clearly likes him as a player, so we’ll have to wait and see.
