Use your head like Sadio and subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Adam Lallana has a spring in his step.

The England international is ready to put a turbulent start to his Liverpool career behind him and help transform a winter of discontent into one of revival.

Lallana’s season has mirrored that of the club he joined for £23million from Southampton last July.

There has been plenty of pain and frustration but recently that’s given way to signs of rich promise.

Having operated out wide during the early months of the campaign, Lallana has flourished centrally in Brendan Rodgers’ 3-4-2-1 formation.

His eye-catching displays against Bournemouth and Arsenal showed what a classy creative force he can be.

“I feel as if I’m getting to the form I want to be at,” Lallana told the ECHO.

“More importantly we have found some performances as a team which is vital.

“As players we’re the first ones to admit we haven’t hit the levels we would have liked to have reached this season for one reason or another. But we’ve taken huge confidence and belief into the busy period over Christmas

“I do think a central role is where I am best. It’s where I played most of my football last season.

“I can play a variety of roles but I do enjoy playing that position.

“I’m able to influence games more when I’m playing inside. I can get on the ball and twist and turn.”

Lallana chances of hitting the ground running at Liverpool were dashed back in July when he pulled up during the club’s training camp in Boston.

Knee ligament damage kept the 26-year-old out until mid-September and when he did return to action he then struggled to live up to his billing.

“It was a slow start for me,” he said.

“It certainly wasn’t ideal coming to a new club, being in a different environment and then picking up an injury straightaway.

“On top of that you had the team not finding great form because of the combination of new players settling in and other players being out injured.

“But we’re not here to make excuses. We’re here to help the team and make it improve.

“Over the past week I think we’ve seen signs of Liverpool and their identity.”

As well as the physical impact of missing most of pre-season, Lallana admits there was also a period of getting to grips with the pressure and expectation levels of life at Anfield.

It was far removed from what he had experienced during 14 years on Southampton’s books.

“It’s completely different playing for Liverpool,” he said.

“With them being so close to winning the title last year, people probably expected the club to do the same again.

“Maybe with us seeming so far away from that there was added pressure and players trying too hard to do well.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I knew there would be some difficult times but I was willing to work through those difficult times to get the good times.

“I’m still learning but I’m enjoying it and starting to find my feet.”

Formby is now home for his wife and young son Arthur.

“They have settled really well and in that aspect I couldn’t have asked for it to go any smoother really,” he added.

“There’s a great bunch of lads here who have helped me to settle.

“It’s probably been a lot easier for me to settle than the foreign lads like Lazar Markovic, who has had to learn a new language and adapt to a new environment.”

Lallana’s route to the top has been different than many of his clubmates.

Just four years ago he was playing in League One before inspiring Saints to back to back promotions. He put in the hard yards to get to where he is.

“I always say it was the making of me playing in League One and then the Championship,” he said.

“Sometimes it’s nice to sit back and put things in perspective.

“Recently people have been talking about Charlie Austin and how he’s got to the Premier League from non-league.

“It’s good for players in those leagues to see that you don’t have to start your career in the Premier League. You can still work your way up through the leagues.”

It was in the youth ranks at Southampton where Lallana perfected the turn made famous by Dutch legend Johan Cruyff.

It’s that technical ability rather than searing pace which enables him to get away from top flight defenders.

“I can’t say I’ve ever studied videos of Cruyff,” Lallana said.

“When I was younger doing technical drills, I got taught various turns and I supposed that’s one I feel works best for me.

“It helps get me out of little areas. I’ve always used that in my game.

“Sometimes maybe I overdo it but when it works it’s hard to stop doing it.”

Three successive starts represents Lallana’s best run in the side since he arrived at Liverpool.

Significantly, he also completed 90 minutes against both Bournemouth and Arsenal.

In his previous dozen starts for the club he had been substituted eight times, including at Leicester City earlier this month when he suffered two cracked ribs.

“I struggled to breathe for about a minute when it happened,” he revealed.

“But now it’s not too bad. It’s bearable. I don’t need to have injections any more, I just wear a bit of padding around that area during matches.

“I think I’m fit enough. I worked hard with the fitness coach on my way back from the knee injury.

“I am more than capable of playing the full 90 minutes and I’ve shown that in the past couple of matches.

“For whatever reasons, in certain games, for tactical reasons I’ve come off. The manager has a job to do and I respect whatever decisions he makes. I’ve just enjoyed coming back into the team and getting a run of games.”

Now the challenge is to ensure Liverpool continue to build momentum when they take on struggling Burnley at Turf Moor on Boxing Day.

“I wouldn’t say we’ve turned a corner but we’ve certainly shown signs of improvement,” Lallana added.

“We don’t want to get carried away with ourselves just because we’ve had a couple of good performances. It doesn’t mean we’re on auto pilot. Far from it.

“We’re disappointed we didn’t find that form earlier in the season.

“We have a lot of tough games coming up and we need to be hard to beat.

“We need to find a few more clean sheets. If we can do that we’ll start rising the table.”

Crunch time for Liverpool FC

Adam Lallana believes Liverpool can use the hectic festive period to launch their challenge for a Champions League spot.

The Reds, who are nine points adrift of fourth placed West Ham, head for lowly Burnley on Boxing Day in the first of three Premier League matches in the space of six days.

Brendan Rodgers’ side then host Swansea City on Monday and Leicester City visit Anfield on New Year’s Day.

The England midfielder is targeting a nine-point haul to ensure Liverpool embark on a charge up the table.

“There are nine points up for grabs in the space of a week and we need to get them,” Lallana told the ECHO.

“I don’t see why we can’t still make the top four. It’s encouraging that our performances have picked up and we’re going into the games with confidence.

“But we’ll have to be at our best against Burnley. Turf Moor is a tough place to go. I played there before in the Championship.

“They have a well organised team and are fighting for their lives so they will be right up for it.”

Lallana admits the schedule will test the depth of talent at Rodgers’ disposal.

“It’s that time of the year when you really need your squad,” he added.

“You can’t count on the same 11 players to get you through all those matches, not when you are playing every two or three days.

“We have got a good squad and I’m sure we’ll prove that. Everyone will be needed.”

Lallana on Christmas

Adam Lallana had to settle for a Skype call with his young son on Christmas Day.

While two-year-old Arthur was unwrapping his presents 250 miles away with family in Bournemouth, the Liverpool midfielder was training at Melwood before boarding the coach bound for the team hotel ahead of the Boxing Day trip to Burnley.

“It’s more important that my wife and son are happy with their family because I’m in and out on Christmas Day,” Lallana said.

“It’s something you have to live with in this industry.

“I enjoy all the games at this time of year. I know a lot of leagues have a winter break but it wouldn’t feel the same if we didn’t play matches.”