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It was a summer of silence at Anfield. And after a demoralising end to the season, completed with the six-goal thrashing at the Britannia, it came as little surprise.

Uncertainty abounded; if nobody knows anything, it’s best to say nothing at all. No-one did.

That is, except, Adam Lallana.

In mid-June, he put his head above the parapet and supported Liverpool FC's decision to keep Brendan Rodgers as manager; at the beginning of July, the midfielder spoke about his excitement of the “tremendous” new arrivals at Anfield.

He’s raring to go for the new season. He thinks signing Christian Benteke as a huge statement of intent. He believes the pre-season tour has put the Reds on course for a flying start.

After a season of frustration, it’s no wonder he has spoken so much – his first year on Merseyside rarely afforded him the chance to do his talking on the pitch, after all.

Not that there is anything particularly wrong with that, of course. It would be remiss of the media to bemoan a player who is open, honest and willing to share his thoughts publicly.

But now is the time to show actions are louder than words.

Lallana has vowed he’ll do that with a proper pre-season behind him. He had not kicked a ball for the Reds when he hobbled out of training in Boston; it seemed innocuous but cost him the opening three league games of the season.

In truth, it cost him even more. An inconsistent season followed from a player who always seemed to be grasping for fitness. He managed just 14 90-minute matches in all competitions. In the Premier League, he put in consecutive 90-minute appearances on just three occasions – problematic for a player whose game is based on fitness and intensity.

'I'm expecting big things of Adam this season'

With a full pre-season behind him, and a few promising performances to boot, Lallana will be confident of being better in his second season.

His own captain, Jordan Henderson, expects similar. “I felt a bit sorry for him last season but Adam is a top, top player,” he said.

“He’s got great quality and he’s got great knowledge of the game. I’ve told him I’m expecting big things from him this season.”

He is not the only one. Lallana cost £25m and his previous injuries can no longer excuse him. His performances in the Far East and Australia looked sharp; his finishing was good, his use of the ball intelligent, his pressing at the level originally expected of him.

Perhaps this is Lallana at full fitness. If it is, it is an exciting prospect; him, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino interchanging behind the striker, pressing and creating.

In his final season at Southampton, that is what he was. He appeared in every Premier League game, although he did complete just 20 of those. Cause for concern, perhaps, but also a statistic which makes his figures from 2013-14 even more exciting.

His goal-to-minute ratio was better during his final season at Southampton; so, too, his chance creation, setting up a team-mate every 46 minutes, on average. He was also better in front of goal and took on players with more regularity. It was, simply put, a better season.

The £23m price tag was no doubt a burden, as was acclimatising to a new club that was struggling to rediscover their previous form. But no sustained period of playing time was an issue, too.

That will change next season, and Lallana must improve. He has fine technique, clever movement and works hard; now, he must work on his end product, and stay fit to provide it on a consistent basis.

He must do it to justify his fee and place in the team; he must also do it to justify his words over the summer.

Back in March, ahead of Liverpool’s crunch clash with Manchester United at Anfield, he held a Q&A with schoolchildren in the Bluecoat School. When asked who would finish top four, he replied: “Chelsea, City, us and Arsenal.”

Liverpool will be hoping his more recent predictions – both about himself and his team-mates – will prove to be a little bit better.

Watch: Adam Lallana stars in new Nivea TV advert