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Southampton: Liverpool’s Adam Lallana to be fit against former club

By Chris Hughes

HONG KONG, HONG KONG - JULY 21: Liverpool FC Midfielder Adam Lallana speaks to the media during a Premier League Asia Trophy Press Conference at Grand Hyatt Hotel on July 21, 2017 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by Marcio Rodrigo Machado/Getty Images for Liverpool FC)
HONG KONG, HONG KONG - JULY 21: Liverpool FC Midfielder Adam Lallana speaks to the media during a Premier League Asia Trophy Press Conference at Grand Hyatt Hotel on July 21, 2017 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by Marcio Rodrigo Machado/Getty Images for Liverpool FC) /
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The former-Southampton captain is seemingly set to return to first-team contention by the end of the international break.

One of several past Southampton players currently among Liverpool’s ranks, Adam Lallana could make his first appearance of the season in a fortnight, when Jurgen Klopp’s side face off against the Saints.

The Reds won their game against West Ham United on Saturday evening with some slick attacking play and Lallana will only add to that – he’s perhaps Liverpool’s best centre-midfielder.

The Saints themselves will be hoping their own star centre-mid, Mario Lemina, will return in time for the match-up against Coutinho and co., having missed Southampton’s last two games with an ankle injury.

The battle between the two maestros could be arguably the games deciding factor when the two sides meat at Anfield on the 18th, with Jurgen Klopp hopeful that Lemina won’t be able to unpick Liverpool’s leaky defence.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 21: Mario Lemina of Southampton in action during the Premier League match between Southampton and West Bromwich Albion at St Mary’s Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 21: Mario Lemina of Southampton in action during the Premier League match between Southampton and West Bromwich Albion at St Mary’s Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images) /

Only one side in the top half have conceded more than the fifth-placed side, who ironically could seriously benefit from having Virgil van Dijk in their defence. 17 goals from 11 makes for bleak reading, and is only excused through 21 scored at the other end.

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Since joining Liverpool, Adam Lallana has become a more complete footballer with improvements on his defensive game. Having him back in contention could potentially aid Liverpool in that aspect, with Emre Can arguably being less consistent on the back foot.

Either way, the return of the 29-year-old will make Southampton’s chance of winning even slimmer. The Saints have just one win in four now and have been struggling to score all together.

The Saints have scored twice in their last three games but scoring hasn’t been easy – they’ve either been scrappy or moments of magic. Against Newcastle early last month Manolo Gabbiadini’s strike was brilliant, and against West Brom Sofiane Boufal’s was even more spectacular.

Southampton vs. Liverpool kicks off at the normal time of 3:00 PM on Saturday the 18th of November.

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