Jamie Redknapp wants to see Adam Lallana kick on after his goal against Slovakia.
Alan Shearer
Pundits Jamie Redknapp and Alan Shearer have told the Daily Mail and The Sun respectively that they felt Adam Lallana was the pick of the bunch for England against Slovakia.
The Three Lions opened their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign with a narrow win over Slovakia in Trnava, with Sam Allardyce claiming a win in his first game in charge having replaced Roy Hodgson over the summer.
Allardyce was edging towards a 0-0 draw though, until Liverpool playmaker Lallana popped up to score an injury-time winner – his first goal for his country in his 27th cap.
England’s Adam Lallana celebrates scoring with team mates
Lallana, 28, often comes in for criticism due to his lack of production; not only did it take him 27 caps to score his first England goal, but he has only hit 14 goals in 94 games for Liverpool since moving from Southampton in 2014.
Lallana does appear to be a favourite of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp though, and he has earned regular playing time for England with Roy Hodgson and now Allardyce, prompting some fans to ask just how he continues to have such a key role for club and country.
Liverpool’s Adam Lallana celebrates scoring
However, he shut his doubters up with the winning goal against Slovakia, turning home from close range in the dying embers of the game, whilst he showed quick feet and a level of invention other England players weren’t providing.
After the game, ex-Liverpool and England midfielder Redknapp told the Daily Mail that he felt Lallana’s end product was lacking before he scored the winning goal, and challenged him to kick on from here.
Former England striker Shearer hailed Lallana’s display, stating that he was England’s best player on the day, and suggested to The Sun that his goal was a reward for his performance.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp
“Adam Lallana is one of our most skilful players but for all but the last few seconds of Sunday’s game I thought his final product was lacking,” said Redknapp, “Then he pops up with the winner and, although it was a little fortunate, that goal will have done Lallana the world of good. The challenge now for Lallana is to use this as a platform to kick on. He needs to start adding goals to his game and I want to see more from him going forwards.”
“Our best player going forward was Adam Lallana and his goal was just reward for his performance. He also hit a post earlier and was our most positive and creative player. And he linked well with Dele Alli when he came on,” added Shearer.
What did you think of Lallana’s display against Slovakia?
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