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Liverpool have completed the signing of Adam Lallana, with the Southampton midfielder sealing a £23m move to Anfield.

The 26-year-old, fresh from representing England at the World Cup in Brazil, is one of the most sought-after players in the Premier League and was selected in last season's PFA Team of the Year.

READ: Lallana seals Anfield move, will wear number 20 for the Reds

Here are six key qualities he would bring to the Reds.

Creativity

Lallana has been compared to some of the most creative talents in European football.

After watching the midfielder’s virtuoso display at Fulham in February, then-Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino - now at Spurs - declared: “In my opinion, if Adam Lallana had a Brazilian nationality, a Spanish nationality, if he were another Mata, Oscar, Hazard, or any of these type of players then, for sure, he would be going with their national side. I truly believe that.”

By March, the comparisons became even loftier. Pochettino said: "He has the skills of an Iniesta, Xavi or Cesc Fábregas. Adam is special. He is a very unique player."

Lallana created 68 chances in 38 Premier League appearances last season, registering six assists. On his third England appearance, against Denmark in March, he came off the bench to set up the winner for Daniel Sturridge.

Goals

Lallana doesn’t just make them - he scores them too.

He hit double figures last season (nine in the Premier League, one in the FA Cup) and has shown a keen eye for goal as the Saints have climbed through the divisions.

He fired 20 goals in League One in 2009-10, then weighed in with 11 the following season as promotion was secured. After hitting 13 in the Championship, his debut season in the Premier League was a disappointment in terms of goals scored - just three - but he rediscovered his shooting boots in 2013-14.

Crucial strikes came last season at Old Trafford and White Hart Lane, while Lallana scored the winner against West Brom and also denied title-chasers Arsenal a win in January.

He knows where the back of the net is.

Versatility

The Southampton man’s adaptability is one of his outstanding qualities. He can operate in a variety of advanced midfield and forward positions, most commonly playing in one of the three attacking slots behind a main striker.

The fact Lallana is equally comfortable on either foot means he sometimes starts on the right side, sometimes on the left, or sometimes through the middle. He can also play in a deeper role if required, making him one of the most versatile players in the Premier League.

In March, he scored a superb long-range strike against Newcastle on his left foot, supposedly the weaker of the two.

“I’ve worked with both feet since I was a kid,” Lallana said after the 4-0 demolition of Alan Pardew’s men. "It's great not having to think about what foot you want to use.”

His versatility will be a key attraction for Brendan Rodgers. Lallana could play in any three of the four positions in a diamond-shaped midfield, while also being able to slot into midfield in a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 system.

Leadership

Lallana has worn the captain’s armband at Southampton since 2012. He skippered the side on their return to the Premier League, setting up a goal in a 3-2 defeat to reigning champions Manchester City on the opening day of the 2012-13 season.

There are older, more experienced players at St Mary’s - but Lallana, who has been at the club since the age of 12, is seen as a natural leader.

"You can speak to him about anything,” said another one of the highly-rated Saints’ homegrown stars, Luke Shaw, now of Manchester United, in a recent interview. “He will give you advice and tell you things that he went through when he was in the academy."

Consistency

The 26-year-old featured in every one of Southampton’s Premier League games last season, starting 37 and coming on as a sub in the other.

He made a total of 45 appearances in 2013-14 and played 30 times the season before. He became a Saints regular in 2008-09, making 43 appearances, and made 56 the season after before playing 41 times and 46 in the next two campaigns.

He is one of the first names on Southampton's teamsheet and has proved he can stand up to the rigours of Premier League football, despite his slight frame.

Experience

The fact Lallana has been a first-team regular with the Saints for six years means he has a wealth of experience, despite only turning 26 in early May.

His footballing education at Southampton has taken him from League One, through the Championship and Premier League, and to the international stage (he won the first of his three senior England caps last November).

Lallana has made 229 league appearances and, if he completes his move to Anfield, he will be one of the most experienced midfield players on the club’s books.

Steven Gerrard (475) leads the way in terms of league appearances, of course, but Lallana has played more games in England than Lucas Leiva (176), Jordan Henderson (183), Joe Allen (183), Raheem Sterling (60) and Philippe Coutinho (46).

He is by no means a rookie.

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