Adam Lallana’s performance against Cardiff City on Saturday has left Liverpool supporters frustrated. The midfielder appeared in just his third Premier League match of the season but managed just 61 minutes. Supporters were disappointed with Lallana’s slow play and poor overall performance during is near an hour on the pitch.
Lallana has struggled with injury since arriving at Liverpool. Since joining the Reds in 2014, Lallana has missed 67 games in all competitions. The midfielder hasn’t finished a full 90 minutes this term due to injury and fitness.
The 2016-17 season saw Lallana peak. He scored eight goals and tallied seven assists in 31 Premier League games for the Reds. Lallana followed it up with zero goals and zero assists in 14 games in all competitions last term.
And that, my friends, is why you NEVER drop Xherdan Shaqiri for Adam Lallana.
— Dharma Bhagalia (@Kloppholic) October 27, 2018
Manager Jurgen Klopp cannot count on Lallana to be fit. Nor can he be guaranteed the midfielder will perform well when he is selected. The frustrating aspect of Saturday’s win over Cardiff was Xherdan Shaqiri’s brilliant 29-minute cameo. The Swiss international scored to help Liverpool ease to victory.
My dog controls a football better than Adam Lallana, and my 8 month old son moves across the ground quicker than he does.. painful to watch him attempt to play these days, completely out of his depth.. hopefully someone like West Ham will take him off our hands in the summer.
— Will Baxter (@Web5times) October 27, 2018
Shaqiri has now scored or tallied an assist in Liverpool’s last three games in all competitions. Lallana doesn’t deserve to play in front of the in-form Swiss playmaker. In fact, Shaqiri has taken over the role Lallana performed so well in 2016-17. But with injuries taking their toll, the England international cannot be expected to return to those previous heights.
Adam Lallana’s injuries have caught up with him. He is slowing down and his touch isn’t as smooth as before. Now 30, Lallana is under contract with Liverpool until 2020. Liverpool fans will hope Klopp has learned from Lallana’s poor performance against Cardiff.
Is Adam Lallana’s time at Liverpool up after terrible Cardiff match?