‘I’m feeling like my old self’: Midfielder says he feels normal again after leaving Liverpool

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Adam Lallana may well be one of the most technically gifted players to have played for Liverpool in recent years.

The England international wasn’t one of the Reds’ most important players during his time at the club, but his quality was there for all to see. He had a wonderful first-touch and so much flair, but sadly, that didn’t always suit Jurgen Klopp’s style of play.

Klopp prefers a more robotic type of midfielder. A running machine who will press at the right time and make smart decisions rather than play on instinct, and while Lallana tried to become that player at Liverpool, he never quite fit into that mould.

The Brighton ace has now spoken about his time at the Reds playing that style on The Big Interview with Graham Hunter, and he says that he now feels like his old self again after leaving Liverpool where he says he felt a bit more paranoid on the pitch.

Lallana is back to himself

The midfielder spoke about Klopp’s style and how it didn’t suit him.

“When I was at Liverpool, Jurgen taught me that there was more than one way to win football matches and win Champions Leagues and leagues. It’s hard work, that’s the German in him. I felt like I became institutionalised there to work and run. There are different ways to have success,” Lallana said.

“Since coming away from Liverpool and the intensity of that football club. Brighton is different to Liverpool. I’m feeling like my old self. The qualities, I can walk a bit more, I would never have said that I could walk at Liverpool because I’d have been paranoid about the press and the second-balls. I’m not saying that isn’t right because that’s Jurgen’s way and we did well.”

Joe Cole syndrome

Lallana suffered with something that we would like to coin ‘Joe Cole syndrome’ at Liverpool.

This was an immensely talented, instinctive midfielder who could do almost anything on the ball playing under a manager whose main focus is hyper-efficiency and running. It wasn’t a good fit.

Joe Cole had a similar situation at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho, and just like Lallana, the creative side of his game was, ultimately, coached out of him.

Lallana is lucky that he’s been able to find himself again at Brighton, because Cole didn’t quite get that luxury at Liverpool, West Ham or Aston Villa after he left Stamford Bridge.