Liverpool paid Southampton £25 million for the England international in a summer exodus as St. Mary’s…
Adam Lallana believes his move to Liverpool was the right decision, even though he fears his former side Southampton will pose the biggest threat to the Reds’ top four ambitions.
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The attacking midfielder though revealed that the entire reason he made the move to Anfield was because his old club will always be seen as an underdog, something which he believes they can harness to help them get a top four spot this season.
When players were filing out of Southampton this summer, it was expected by many to be a long and hard campaign for the Saints. Ronald Koeman’s side have gone on to surprise fans and pundits alike to be challenging for a Champions League spot in the final third of the season.
As Lallana prepares to return to the south coast club, he argued that the underdog status can be something which Southampton can exploit to shock the league, stealing into the Champions League spots (via Mirror).
“It will help them that the pressure is not there. They are the underdogs still and I have been there – and it’s a good feeling to have, with nothing to lose,” he said.
“You think ‘let’s go here or there and cause an upset again’ rather than being expected to win. Deep down I am delighted to see them doing so well.
“I have a lot of friends there, there are a lot of good people at that football club and I am thrilled to see them doing so well. If Liverpool don’t make the top four I definitely hope that they make it.”
The 26-year-old has scored five and assisted three in his 21 appearances for Liverpool this season, but his side had underachieved somewhat following last season’s title race.
While Lallana regrets the nature of his departure from St. Mary’s, he has never ruled out not playing for the club again and the irony of the side he left to find European football getting into the top four, would not be lost on him.
“I was maybe a bit surprised to see Southampton keep up the pace with the top four, but I know a lot of the lads there, they are so well organised and know each others’ game inside out, and I am delighted for them,” he explained.
“But you put it into context. There is big pressure that comes with playing for Liverpool, with the history of the club, and the way they performed last season. That is the pressure we want.
“Now, when you are playing well you’re not worried about the opponents. You go into any game thinking ‘we can get a win here.’ We fancy ourselves in any one of those games. When you are confident, it doesn’t matter who you are playing.”