Sky Sports sources understand Liverpool are set to table a bid for Adam Lallana after his excellent season. Earlier in the campaign, the Southampton captain gave us an insight of his talent by explaining how he creates attacking space
Friday 9 May 2014 11:17, UK
Earlier this season, Adam Lallana told us about the talent which has since caught Liverpool's eye.
In a cagey fixture between two similar sides, chances to score can be limited. Creating and taking those opportunities when they come along is therefore vital. Adam Lallana has been an integral part of that attacking strategy for Southampton this season and his talent is understood to have caught the eye of Liverpool. The Anfield club are, according to Sky Sports sources, preparing to table a bid for the playmaker and they want a deal to be agreed before the World Cup. Lallana is expected to be an important player for England in Brazil this summer after a fine season for Southampton which has seen him score nine goals and provide six assists in the Premier League. That form earned the 25-year-old a place in the PFA Team of the Year for 2013/14 and, in November 2013, he gave us an insight of the skills which make him such a good player. "The key for me as a striker / winger is to gain half-a-yard inside the box and then, preferably, face up my defender," said Lallana. "To create the space, I look to lean on my defender and then come into the space. Once I am in the area, I shout to receive the ball. "I want to take it on my back foot, drop the shoulder and then, hopefully, you lose the defender. "Then I will spring inside off the back foot, create half-a-yard and bend the ball in the top corner." Lallana demonstrated this technique perfectly when scoring Southampton's goal in their defeat at West Ham United last season. After receiving the ball from Jay Rodriguez, with his back to goal, Lallana turned and powered a shot into the roof of the net. Another example of Lallana's effectiveness came in Southampton's 2-0 win over Newcastle United in November 2012, when he scored and also showed plenty of intent to burst into the penalty area and threaten the goal. Lallana's quick feet and clever movement have as a result become vital in trying to break down opponents which could be attributes in the thinking of Liverpool. Adam Lallana wears the ultra-light PUMA evoSPEED 1.2, available now from ProDirectSoccer.com. Head to facebook.com/PUMAfootball #PUMAFC.