Tonight’s trip to Belgrade might make or break Adam Lallana’s Liverpool career.
Jurgen Klopp confirmed on Monday that he did not bring Xherdan Shaqiri to Serbia for Liverpool’s clash with Red Star tonight.
The Kosovo-born attacker would have been subjected to a hostile night in Belgrade, with the German manager omitting him for political reasons.
His omission might just open the door for Adam Lallana in what could be a rare chance to impress, but failing to do so could well result in Klopp letting him go in January.
If he plays from the beginning, it’ll be only Lallana’s third start for the Reds in all competitions this season.
Injuries have seen the former Southampton star – a £25 million signing in 2014 – become a bit-part player under Klopp over the past 18 months.
It isn’t unreasonable to suggest that Lallana might not get many more opportunities to salvage his Anfield career from now until January, and failing to impress Klopp tonight ought to prompt the Liverpool boss to wonder if he should sell up in 2019.
Lallana will be 31 in May and will have only one year left on his contract come next summer, meaning that it could be hard for Liverpool to turn down an offer, should one come in this winter.
His future at Anfield might well hinge on his performance tonight and if he doesn’t take it with both hands, and justify Klopp’s unwavering faith in him despite the injuries, then little more can be done.
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