Jurgen Klopp is delighted Adam Lallana has extended his Liverpool contract.
Yesterday, the Englishman penned a three year deal with increased wages of £110k/week – a reward for the fact he’s one of the first names on the manager’s team-sheet.
This season, Lallana’s registered seven goals, seven assists and is also Gareth Southgate’s most important creative player for the national team.
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Liverpool fans know the 28-year-old for his wonderful feet and technical ability, as well as the ground he covers on a weekly basis – but according to his boss – he’s a leader, too.
“This is fantastic news for the club because Adam is a great player and an even better person. I am so pleased that we will spend more time together now and have this common future with LFC trying to be successful here,” he told the club’s official website.
“Adam is a natural leader and is so, so important within our team and also in the dressing room. Maybe on the outside his leadership is not seen as much as we see it each and every day at Melwood in everything he does.
“What I think is most exciting about this news is that this player is only just arriving at his peak. He has his very best years ahead of him and they will be at LFC. He is in fantastic shape and his passion for football is as high as I have seen in a player – you not only see that out on the pitch in matches, but also in training here at Melwood.
“People talk about his progression and his improvement in the last 18 months, but for me he has shown this quality since my first day at Liverpool.
“He has a world-class attitude to go with outstanding ability: that’s not a bad combination!
“Our younger players will now be able to benefit from watching, listening and learning from him for an even longer period because he sets the perfect example each and every day.”
Leadership is not something you associate with Lallana, but he did captain Southampton and in many ways leads by example in the work he puts in.
Klopp loves Lallana’s attitude as much as his skill-set and hopefully the midfielder can enjoy a strong run of form from now until the end of the campaign. We’ll need him at his best if we’re to force ourselves into the top four.