Adam Lallana insists he is not young any more. In a footballing sense he is right, now 27 and having progressed steadily to club and international prominence. Yet after a season of frustration at Liverpool, the midfielder is determined to mature and flourish under Brendan Rodgers as well as leading England to Euro 2016 qualification.
Lallana certainly speaks with an air of authority, perhaps borne from having to wait for his chance at the top. His has been a long road, one that began at Bournemouth and included long campaigns in League One before Southampton’s eventual elevation to the Premier League.
In many ways Lallana personified Saints’ rise from the third tier to the top flight, which is why his £25m departure from St Mary’s was such an acrimonious divorce. Yet the perception of Lallana as a young, burgeoning talent is one explained by a late England debut in November 2013. He established himself in the mainstream consciousness only during Southampton’s first season back in the Premier League, despite having been around for many years.
“I’m 27, I’m not young. Maybe people think that because I played the early years at a lower level and only came on the scene in the Premier League at 24. But I don’t feel young anymore,” says Lallana after a fortnight in which his second child, Albie, was born and one that will end with England’s European Championship qualifier against Slovenia on Sunday.
Lallana made 26 league appearances for Liverpool, joining after their spectacular 2013-14 season that almost crowned Rodgers a Premier League champion. Last season was a different story altogether, and Liverpool remain in an uncertain period of regeneration. For Lallana, there was never any doubt that Rodgers would remain in charge, despite the manager’s position being in the spotlight for some time, especially after the 6-1 defeat at Stoke on the final day that ensured a disappointing sixth-placed finish.
So far this summer Liverpool have agreed deals for Danny Ings, James Milner and Adam Bogdan while the transfer saga involving Raheem Sterling and his agent continues to rumble aggressively on.
Lallana’s first season with the club, he says, was difficult, but he believes Liverpool are capable of improvement. “[It was] frustrating as far as injuries were concerned, especially as the season before I was available every game for Southampton. It was stop-start. Every time I felt I was picking up rhythm or Liverpool were picking up rhythm I got another knock and was out for two weeks or so,” he says.
Lallana also described the departed Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh as “great coaches” and says he was pleased to see Rodgers still in charge. “I worked well with them this year. It was not my decision. I’ve only read the reports in the press. We will have to get back to pre-season and I’m sure there will be another assistant and different coaches that we will have to work well with.
“In my eyes, there wasn’t really any doubt in him [Rodgers] being here for next season. He’s a great coach. He’s very good tactically and I am always going to learn, players are always going to get better when he is coaching.
“It’s been an up and down season. We reached two semi-finals and we were disappointed that we couldn’t get to the final. At one point we were closing in on the top four but missed out there, but we’ve got a lot of new players and off the back of such a promising year last year, when they nearly won the league, the expectation was always going to be really high.”
On Sterling, Lallana said the winger’s personality has been misinterpreted by many during the continuing impasse over a transfer. “He is a great lad and, for me, people talk too much about him.” he says. “He is a really down-to-earth lad and I just hope he stays at Liverpool because he is a fantastic player and a good friend. He plays with a smile on his face on the pitch and in training.”
If selected by Roy Hodgson against Slovenia, it will be Lallana’s 15th appearance in an England shirt. He played every game at the World Cup, although he has yet to score for his country despite establishing himself as an important player. When discussing England’s development since Brazil, Lallana pointed to the qualifying victory in Switzerland and unbeaten record as evidence that the squad’s young players are progressing together amid a calm environment under Hodgson. “We’ve gone a year unbeaten. It’s gone well as far as qualification,” he says. “We have surpassed a few obstacles and teams that will be difficult and it’s going to be another difficult one at the weekend, especially going away from home.
“I am always looking to improve. It’s been different for me this season going to Liverpool. It’s a bigger team, bigger expectations, and it kind of makes you realise what it must be like playing for [Manchester] United, Chelsea, week-in, week-out. It’s the same with England. The demands and the standards are higher and I will be looking to kick on for England as I will be for Liverpool as well.”
