Unfortunately, Liverpool is going to have to start the Premier League season without Adam Lallana. On July 25 during a training session, he managed to get a significant injury. The club stated that Lallana suffered an injury to his lateral collateral ligament in his knee. It is expected that he will not be able to play for the next 6 weeks and will have to be treated properly. At latest Lallana may return in early September, possibly against Aston Villa on the 13th. The prospect was one of a variety of signings that Liverpool had acquired during the summer transfer session.
With the preseason friendlies that are occurring in the United States, Lallana will not be able to properly adjust to the Reds’ style of play. On Wednesday, Liverpool lost to AS Roma with a last minute own goal by Daniel Agger. Although the squad was not playing with its ideal starting 11, it was a chance for some substitutes to prove themselves. Since Lallana had only been practicing for the squad for three days prior to the game, he was not able to play in the match. However, this complicates matters, because it will take an even longer time for him to adjust to Brendan Rodgers’ style of play. Fortunately for the Reds, Lallana will not be requiring surgery to fix his injury.
Lallana was Liverpool’s most expensive signing yet with a fee of £25m. This is an evident blow to the Anfield squad, but they fortunately have enough squad depth to make up for the loss. Rodgers can choose from a range of players such as Philippe Coutinho, Richard Sterling, Jordon Ibe and Lazar Markovic. Their young players and recent signings will help fill in the gap for Lallana and adequately replace him.
Hopefully in the upcoming preseason friendlies, players will be able to step up and show that they can replace Lallana. Liverpool will be facing Olympiakos on soldier Field in Chicago this Sunday. Most squads have not been using their best players throughout the matches but the managers can nonetheless assess their second team players.
With the loss of one of their star signings, Brendan Rodgers will need to find the proper replacement for him in the upcoming Premier League season.
