Adam Lallana Returns From Injury

With Adam Lallana now fully fit following a groin injury picked up on international duty, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has an interesting decision to make this weekend. Does he bring the 28-year-old back into the starting line-up for the visit of West Ham this Sunday, or does he stick with the midfield pairing of Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum in front of the deep-lying Jordan Henderson?

Despite the disappointing 4-3 defeat to Bournemouth last Sunday, both Can and Wijnaldum played fairly well: The German even got on the scoresheet with a terrific strike that should really have settled the game in Liverpool’s favour until they inexplicably conceded three goals in the final quarter of an hour. Liverpool’s late collapse at the Vitality Stadium was a collective team failing, but if blame were to be attributed to individuals, Can and Wijnaldum would be way down the list. Dropping either might therefore be considered by some to be a little harsh, but the bottom line is that when fit and available, Lallana has to play.

The former Southampton man has been a revelation in his new midfield role this season, becoming one of the most important players in Klopp’s system. Not only is he the one who leads Liverpool’s much-vaunted “counter press,” he’s also one of the most creative players in the league, bringing a dimension to Liverpool’s attacking play for which nobody else has been able to compensate when he’s been absent.

At their dynamic best, Liverpool simply run all over the opposition, attacking from all angles and suffocating with their pressing game. When they go forward, Liverpool’s players are constantly interchanging positions and Lallana is central to that due to his willingness to make runs beyond the front three. Wijnaldum and Can do it occasionally, but Lallana does it repeatedly, creating space for the likes of Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino to exploit.

Due to the years he spent in a more attacking role, the quality Lallana has when he gets into those advanced positions also far exceeds that of Liverpool’s other midfield options, and had he been available to start every game, there’s good reason to believe Liverpool would have more points on the board. That’s why he must start on Sunday, as Liverpool can’t afford another slip-up after what happened last weekend.

There is no disputing that the Merseysiders have looked much more effective this season when Lallana has played than they have done in his absence. They’ve done all right without him, but their football hasn’t been anywhere near as fluent, particularly at Anfield, where Liverpool have generally blown teams away with Lallana in the side. Without him it’s proved more difficult, with a goalless draw against Manchester United and a scrappy 2-0 win over struggling Sunderland. That’s in stark contrast to thumping home wins over the likes of Leicester, Hull and Watford, where Lallana played a starring role.

Klopp is usually reluctant to select players who haven’t been training for the full week, so it was no great surprise that Lallana was on the bench last week as he’d returned only three days prior. It would certainly be a surprise if he was still on the bench this Sunday, though, and it would also be a mistake.

Sunday’s match-up with West Ham looks to be an easy one on paper, but after having been embarrassed at home last weekend by Arsenal, this might not be the ideal time to face the Hammers. Slaven Bilic will be looking for a spirited response from his players, and Liverpool need to be at their best to avoid falling further behind the top two.

So the question is not so much whether Lallana should return — it’s who should make way.

Ordinarily, Can probably would be the one most at risk as Wijnaldum appears to be a more natural fit for a complementary role. Can has not always looked completely comfortable in the position and his form has been patchy as a result, but he has suddenly developed a knack for scoring goals, having found the net three times in his last five Premier League starts. That complicates the issue; it’s not easy leaving out a midfielder who is scoring goals.

Wijnaldum has had less of an impact than Can, but he’s still been a key cog in the machine. For one thing, he moves the ball quicker than Can, who can often slow down attacks by taking too many touches. With Wijnaldum and Lallana in tandem, Liverpool’s midfield functioned very well earlier the season, particularly in wins at Chelsea and Arsenal and a draw at Spurs, but three goals in five games is hard to ignore.

It’s a difficult decision Klopp faces, but that’s why the top managers are paid so handsomely.