Sunday 5 October 2014 13:12, UK
Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana admits it was something of a relief to score his first goal for the club since joining from Southampton.
Lallana netted the opener in the 2-1 win against West Brom at Anfield as Liverpool recorded their first win in four matches.
The England international, a £26m recruit from Southampton in the summer, is pleased with his goal but insists the most important thing was a win for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
"I’ve not seen it back yet but I knew it was on the stroke of half-time," Lallana said after the win.
"It meant a lot to me getting my first goal. I had a difficult start to my career here getting injured and the team has been under a bit of pressure lately with a few difficult results, but we’ve been working hard and it paid off today with that win."
Lallana’s goal saw him play a one-two with Jordan Henderson before jinking away from a defender and fire across goal into the bottom right corner of the net.
"That’s how I like it really not getting much time to think about it," he said.
"It was quite tight in the box and I kept my balance and I just remember hitting it early and it going in the bottom corner. I was just delighted to get my first goal but more for the manner of the win. We dug in and we got the three points."
Manager Brendan Rodgers added: "He‘s settled in very quick at this early stage of his career and you could hear the supporters today. Firstly, they really appreciate his work-rate. He was brought here because of his intensity and his work-rate.
"He’s got wonderful football ability but he works very, very hard and you’ve seen today he’s got wonderful touch and feel for the ball. He’s cut it across and it was a great strike and a wonderful finish.
"He’s a wonderful young man. He wants to learn, he wants to improve and he’s getting better every time he steps on to the field for me."
