LOVELY LATE LEVELLER IS KOP LIFELINE FOR LALLANA
ADAM LALLANA claims his goal at Old Trafford on Sunday has kick-started his revival at Liverpool.
Lallana’s career has gone backwards in recent years, injuries reducing him to the role of bit-part player.
Yet against Liverpool’s bitter rivals Manchester United he showed he still has plenty to offer with an equaliser five minutes from time that kept his side’s unbeaten Premier League run going.
That has given Lallana (above) the confidence to believe he can make boss Jurgen Klopp (below) give him more game-time.
“I’m delighted. It’s nice to contribute to a top team like this and I feel that’s the first of many big moments me for this season,” he said. “Just because I’ve not started any of the first nine games, I don’t think that means I am not going to play a big part in this team.
“Can this be my season? Of course, yeah. It’s a long old season. We’ve got the World Club Cup to come. The Champions League this week, the Premier League at the weekend, the Carabao Cup next week.
“So it’s important to stay strong and be ready.
“That’s where my focus will be and I’m delighted I can make an impact when I get the chance.”
Lallana admitted that Liverpool, who trailed to a controversial Marcus Rashford goal, did not have their best day at Old Trafford but finding a way to pick up points when playing badly is vital if they are to be champions.
“We were flat, we know that,” he said. “We have to do better than that and learn from it, but we still ground out a point.
“That’s what we have to take from the game, that we dug deep and found a way back. When you aren’t at your best but can still grind out results then you’ve got a good chance of being successful.”
MAURICIO POCHETTINO admits that right now Tottenham are their own worst enemies.
The Argentine is going through the toughest time of his five-and-a-half-year reign in north London.
Just three wins from his last dozen matches has left question marks about his future that refuse to go away.
Pochettino (above) has constantly been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Manchester United over the last two years.
And for the first time, the ex-Espanyol and Southampton manager yesterday owned up and said his job at Spurs could be under threat unless results improve.
The club are extremely reluctant to sack a man who has unquestionably improved them.
He took them to the Champions League final only last season – and signed a fiveyear contract in May 2018. But
FROM BACK PAGE thrashing by Bayern Munich (right) last time out.
“If we don’t improve our performances and results, what is going to be the result? It’s always the same in football,” said Pochettino.
“I understand the business, I am 47. Why do you think I don’t
Pochettino said: “In this type of period our worst opponents are ourselves.
“We are in a period where we are fragile.
“Of course confidence drops to the floor – that is normal.
“It’s natural when you suffer a defeat like we suffered against Bayern Munich.
“But it is one thing when you are not good, and you lose 7-2 against Bayern and from the first minute to last you were so bad.
“But when you analyse the game, the first half should have been 3-1 or 3-2 to us.
“What happened confidence.
“But in the last five years this team has done a lot of good
Paffects
Wthings. We raised standards so high and we are in our fourth season in the Champions League. “Now it looks normal for Tottenham to be here. But five years ago it wasn’t normal. “We need to face a different period – but the belief is there, and the faith. We need to stay calm. “Of course there are rumours. It’s normal for people to ask, ‘Are we training too much, are we all tired?’ Our answer is to only laugh.” Pochettino may have a chuckle, but Spurs will be in danger of failing to reach the Champions League knockout stages tonight if they do not beat Red Star Belgrade at the
Dhave white hair? Because I don’t pay attention to any of this.” The Argentine’s future has been the source of speculation since last season when Real Madrid and Manchester United were both interested in him. But he admits that he is in the firing line now, adding: “That is football. It’s normal.’’
LFATottenham Hotspur Stadium – after taking only one point from two Group B games so far.
They were humbled at home by Bayern Munich last time out, and Pochettino said: “People say expectation has changed after the Champions League final for this club. That is why this situation looks worse.”
England captain Harry Kane (right) admits it is the hardest time he has encountered at the club.
“I’d say so,” said the Spurs striker. “It’s not going to be a straight path to success.
“There’s going to be bumps along the way. At the moment we’re at one and we’ve got to overcome that.”
Spurs will be boosted by the return of playmaker Christian Eriksen after he recovered from a dead leg.
Heung-Min Son first goal scorer