Liverpool ace Adam Lallana has been studying Fabinho and Frenkie de Jong (Picture: Getty)

Liverpool star Adam Lallana has been watching Fabinho and Frenkie de Jong for inspiration as he looks to develop into an option at the base of Jurgen Klopp’s midfield.

Though Lallana made his name as a more advanced midfielder, Jurgen Klopp experimented with the 31-year-old in the No.6 role during pre-season.

A series of injuries meant Lallana only managed 16 appearances for the Reds last term and the England international understands that he will have to be flexible in order to become a regular for Liverpool again.

Clearly relishing the challenge of adapting to a new role, Lallana has been studying Fabinho’s game in training as he waits for his chance in the first-team.




He has also been watching Barcelona wonderkid De Jong under Jordan Henderson’s orders.

‘I’m still waiting to get a chance there. That may, or may not, come, but it definitely interests me,’ Lallana told The Times.

‘I find it very stimulating because I get more of the ball than I have ever had in my career before. Sometimes as a No.8 you are making decoy runs, or you are offering and you don’t get the ball.

‘Whereas if you are in the ‘six’ you are centralised to the play, involved in the build-up a lot more. That is what I noticed straight away. That’s where the stimulation comes from — it feels good to be on the ball.

Lallana has been watching De Jong (Picture: Getty)

‘I have not gone into it too deeply. Jordan [Henderson] told me I need to watch [Barcelona’s] Frenkie de Jong.

‘The way he plays it, he kind of dribbles a little bit more than other sixes would, which obviously brings a bit of risk but that is in my game.

‘I do watch the six more so now than what the eight does because I know that reasonably well. What are their movements like?

‘I’ve found myself focusing on Fabinho a little bit in our first games and he has played it outstandingly well.’

Henderson has told Lallana to study De Jong’s game (Picture: Getty)

Lallana admits he’s struggled with being on the periphery of Liverpool’s squad but is hopeful of making a bigger impact this season.

‘I feel happy. I feel fit and strong,’ he added.

‘If I want to be part of this team, the best team in Europe, I need to keep improving and developing and that is what I have found difficult over the last two years because I have not been able to show that. I can’t be the same player, I need to be better because the team is better.

‘I didn’t make the squad for the first game of the season and that was a bit of an eye-opener. I didn’t see that happening. I hadn’t experienced that since I was growing up at Southampton.

‘But it is a 60-game season and I look at my last couple of seasons and think: “Just be patient, be persistent and eventually my chance will come.”

‘If I am fit, I am sure I will contribute in a big way.’

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