Adam Lallana thrived under Mauricio Pochettino’s pressing style and the Tottenham Hotspur head coach thinks that Jürgen Klopp could have the same effect on the Liverpool midfielder.
Lallana rose to prominence playing under Pochettino at Southampton and earned recognition by making his England debut in 2013. Klopp, the new Liverpool manager, favours a similar, energetic style of play to Pochettino.
While at Southampton, Pochettino likened Lallana to Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández, the Barcelona midfielders, and he moved from St Mary’s Stadium for £25 million a year ago.
It was not until mid-December that he made two consecutive starts, though, and injuries and erratic form restricted his appearances.
He has started just two league games this term, but Pochettino said: “Lallana is a great, unbelievable player, one of the best in England. He can adapt his skill to different styles. For me, he is one of the best players in England. We will know soon if Klopp’s style suits him.”
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Three of Pochettino’s other players at Southampton made the same move to Anfield — and have also struggled. Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert joined Liverpool last summer and were followed by Nathaniel Clyne this season. Lambert has since departed.
Pochettino keeps in regular contact with his former players and believes that people underestimated their step up to Liverpool and the uncertainty surrounding Brendan Rodgers, the former manager who parted company with the club recently.
“Liverpool is different to Southampton, a different environment and club,” Pochettino said. “You always need to settle in a new club to perform well.”