Playmaker wants to be used in the middle, and not as a winger…
Huge money summer signing Adam Lallana reckons that he’s most effective when used centrally rather on the left of midfield, he told the official website.
The 26-year-old cost £26m back in June from Southampton, and after missing the early weeks of the season due to injury, he was used predominantly from the left in a standard 4-3-3 formation.
Lallana did ‘ok’, but couldn’t affect matches like he did last term for the Saints, when his form earned him a spot in the Premier League Team of the Year.
However, since Rodgers reverted to the 3-4-3, Lallana has been used in an inside-right role, which has given him far more reign to roam freely in the centre of the park, thanks to an overlapping right wing-back outside of him.
“I feel as if I’m getting to the form I want to be at,” Lallana began.
“More importantly we have found some performances as a team, which is vital.
“As players we’re the first ones to admit we haven’t hit the levels we would have liked to have reached this season for one reason or another. But we’ve taken huge confidence and belief into the busy period over Christmas.
“I do think a central role is where I am best. It’s where I played most of my football last season. I can play a variety of roles but I do enjoy playing that position. I’m able to influence games more when I’m playing inside. I can get on the ball and twist and turn.
“I’ve been impressed by the way the manager has been looking for different solutions to try and make it work. He’s looking for the system to suit the personnel we’ve got and over the last couple of games I think we’ve found it and that’s a credit to him.
“It’s not the only system we can play but it’s kind of just clicked with Raheem playing a great role for us. It’s not his natural role but he’s been doing really well for the team.”
Dovetailing Sterling who’s been used as a false 9, Lallana and Coutinho have looked the best they have all campaign since we switched tactics, and all three will be crucial to our chances of saving our season in 2015.