Adam Lallana gave an interview following last night’s match in which he claimed Jurgen Klopp had been privately instructing Liverpool players to get nastier and physically match up to opponents.
“The manager has tried to drum into us that sometimes we’ve got to be dirtier, fight a bit more and play teams at their own game,” the midfielder told Sky Sports.
Liverpool downed a resilient Sunderland 1-0, but the manager was highly animated on the touchline throughout, and was filmed here telling Lallana to put in more effort.
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“Hey Adam! You have to fight for it!” Klopp hollers.
Lallana was credited with an assist for his touch before Christian Benteke’s goal, although it was clearly an accident.
Overall though the playmaker didn’t contribute enough in the final third. His off the ball work is normally impressive, but Liverpool fans need to see goals and assists from a player in his position.
Saying that, Klopp will undoubtedly scream hundreds of instructions throughout the 90 to all his players, and it shouldn’t be seen as a sign that he doesn’t rate or appreciate Lallana’s qualities.
It’s just an interesting insight into the views of the manager and what he wants from his players right now.