Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has a new player in mind for the 'Jorginho' role - as Adam Lallana has shown in wins over Bradford and Tranmere.
Attacking midfielder Lallana had been linked with a move away from Liverpool this summer after finding game time hard to come by last season.
With Liverpool displaying a devastating array of attacking options en route to winning the Champions League, it had looked as if 31-year-old Lallana might have to look for a new challenge.
But Klopp is renowned for his reinvention of players, and Lallana has shown in Liverpool's first two pre-season games that he may have found a new part of play in the manager's plans.
Lallana - who has a year left on his contract - has impressed playing in a deeper-lying midfield role in Liverpool's 3-1 win at Bradford City on Sunday and 6-0 thrashing of Tranmere Rovers last Thursday.
And Klopp said after the victory at Bradford: "Adam is the kind of player who can play that and he enjoys this 'Jorginho' role – I hope Maurizio Sarri doesn't see the games or he will make an offer."
In quotes reported by the Telegraph , he added: “It is about getting Adam rhythm, bringing him in early and doing things he is naturally good at: small spaces, passing the ball, and then from time-to-time offering the runs in behind as well and together with Milly (James Milner) that is possible. For us it is another option.
“He needs a bit of luck, like we all do in life. We have to come through without injuries, that would be cool, and then we have a couple of new players, I would say, this season.”
Klopp previously reinvigorated Milner's career by utilising him as a left-back, while the midfielder was one of Liverpool's most influential performers last season.
The manager is also credited with turning Trent Alexander-Arnold from a midfielder to one of Europe's best right-backs, and cementing the versatile Roberto Firmino as a no9.
