Adam Lallana has admitted that the entire Liverpool squad are going to miss Steven Gerrard, who has just three games remaining ahead of his summer switch to MLS side LA Galaxy.
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Lallana, who watched from the bench as Gerrard grabbed a late winner against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, was quick to point out that the skipper remains, even at 34, our ‘go-to man’.
As the Liverpool Echo reports, 26-year-old Lallana was still at primary school when Gerrard made his Premier League debut for the Reds back in 1998. While when our iconic No. 8 was lifting the Champions League trophy in 2005, Lallana was still a part of Southampton’s academy side.
In a recent interview, Lallana explained why he has relished the past nine months – working alongside one of his heroes – with his only disappointment being that the experience is going to come to a somewhat premature end.
Having only joined the Reds in the summer, Lallana says that he would have loved the opportunity to spend more time on the pitch alongside our long-serving captain.
He told the Echo: “I grew up watching Stevie play at the beginning of his career. He has to be the biggest legend this club has ever seen. It’s hard to put into words what he’s done here. What he’s achieved is mind-blowing.
“He’s easily up there with the best we’ve ever seen in the Premier League. You think of the Champions League final in 2005 and the FA Cup final a year later, he’s always been the ‘go-to man’. He has always contributed massively to this club’s success.
“He delivers on the biggest stages. He’s done that throughout his career. He’s so calm under pressure and that’s something you can’t buy. It’s instilled in you and he’s going to be sadly missed.
“It’s a shame it’s only been for one season, but I feel privileged to be able to say I’ve played with him. It’s been a great honour. Watching him on a daily basis has certainly helped me both on and off the pitch. Hopefully he will return one day in a coaching capacity or some other role because his knowledge, experience and love for this club is huge.”