‘I treated every day like it was my last’: Adam Lallana opens up on his Liverpool departure as he admits he ‘needed’ to leave Anfield and finds life at Brighton ‘refreshing’
- Adam Lallana joined Brighton from Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer
- The midfielder states he still relished training despite knowing he was leaving
- Having played five Premier League games, he has already settled at Brighton
- He admits he helped convince new signing Danny Welbeck to join the club
Adam Lallana admits he cherished his final few months at Liverpool despite knowing he was going to be leaving the club after falling down the pecking order.
The midfielder departed the Reds on a free transfer to Brighton in the summer following six enjoyable years at Anfield where he picked up winners’ medals in the Champions League and most recently the Premier League.
Injuries and new signings though saw the 32-year-old’s game time drop during his last three years at the club where in total he made 178 appearances, scoring 22 goals.
Adam Lallana has settled in well at Brighton after joining on a free transfer from Liverpool
But the former England international claims there is no ill feeling over his departure and that he still relished his final few months at the club even after he knew his contract was not going to be renewed.
‘After I had those couple of days where I realised it was going to be my last season at Liverpool, I made sure I treated every day, every training session like it was my last,’ he told The Observer.
‘I enjoyed the last six, seven, eight months as much as I did any year while I was at the club.’
Having joined Brighton nad settled quickly, Lallana admits he helped play a role in convincing his former England team-mate Danny Welbeck to join the club as a free agent following his Watford release, with the striker in line to make his debut against West Bromwich Albion on Monday.
Lallana ended an enjoyable six years at Anfield by lifting the Premier League trophy despite seeing his game-time diminish during his last few seasons on Merseyside
‘We were speaking and it got to a point where I felt I couldn’t message him any more … but it all came from a good place, he said. ‘I just thought it would be the perfect setup for Welbz.
‘Meeting new people and forming new relationships with teammates, with colleagues is so refreshing and something I think I needed. It’s been absolutely fantastic.’
Lallana had joined Liverpool from Southampton in 2014 so it came as little surprise to find the midfielder back on the south coast in the summer when he joined the Seagulls.
Lallana admits he loved training at Liverpool in his final days despite knowing he was leaving
Already he has become an integral part of Graham Potter’s side, featuring in all five of their opening Premier League games this term. If he plays against the Baggies on Monday it will be the first time he has played six-in-a-row since the 2016-17 season.
He admits his secret to staying fit so far this term has been the way he has had his training hours assessed by Potter, who is keen to get the most out of the experienced star.
‘I maybe do 80 per cent of the session one day, then 100 per cent the next, he added. ‘The manager has said I’m here for three years, not three months, so it was important I didn’t want to do everything and take part in every session and do more. It’s not always about the amount you do; it’s about the quality.’