Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Klopp claims former Liverpool man ‘could have been on another level’

Jurgen Klopp Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp had plenty to say about Brighton star Adam Lallana in his pre-match press conference for Liverpool’s clash with the Seagulls on Saturday.

The Reds host Graham Potter’s men looking to keep their unbeaten record intact, but will up against a former Anfield star in Lallana in the process. The 33-year-old made 128 league appearances for Liverpool between 2014 and 2020 and was part of the squad that won their maiden Premier League title and the Champions League under the German.

The former England man embraced Klopp’s high-pressing style from the off and the Reds boss was clearly a fan.

Speaking about Lallana ahead of Saturday’s game, he said: “I miss Adam still to be honest. Adam set the standard from the first to the last day pretty much and it was really impressive.

“What I loved about him, a football player with technical skills he has and that working mentality is really rare.

“I think we all agree if Adam had been a little bit less injured he could have been on another level.

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“One of the best players I’ve ever worked with. An absolutely incredible person as well so I’m really looking forward to seeing him again.”

Liverpool will have Naby Keita available for the game, although fellow midfielders Fabinho and Thiago are both out.


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Klopp jokes over Liverpool legend

Meanwhile, Klopp has joked that Andy Lonergan ‘used to be a legend’ after his former keeper joined rivals Everton.

The 38-year-old veteran stopper was with the Reds during the 2019/20 Premier League-winning season and picked up UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup medals, despite never appearing in a game for the Merseysiders.

Caoimhin Kelleher and Andy Lonergan Liverpool 2019

After short spells with Stoke and West Brom last season, Toffees boss Rafa Benitez picked up Lonergan to act as third choice behind Jordan Pickford and Asmir Begovic at Goodison Park.

Lonergan spent 11 years at Preston, where Liverpool won in the Carabao Cup in midweek. And speaking to north west reporter Simon Crabtree. Klopp name-checked the stopper: “We had, from my point of view, a 100% Preston North End legend here with Andy Lonergan.

“He won with us pretty much everything, we loved him!

“But now I think he is at Everton … so he was a legend, he used to be a legend.”

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