Former Liverpool star Adam Lallana has revealed that he ‘Googled’ Jurgen Klopp during his time at Anfield.
Lallana spent six years with the Reds from 2014-20, winning four major trophies along the way. The versatile playmaker helped bring the Champions League, Premier League, Super Cup and Club World Cup to Merseyside during that time.
It was Brendan Rodgers who signed Lallana from Southampton in 2014. A little over a year later, though, the Northern Irishman was dismissed and replaced by Klopp in October 2015.
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Lallana, speaking on a new five-part documentary about Klopp from The Anfield Wrap called 'JURGEN', has revealed he looked him up after the news broke about his appointment.
"I remember being on international duty and him getting announced," Lallana said in part two of the docu-series. "I remember typing his name into Google and seeing what type of football he liked.
"Because obviously, I had a tough first year and I was looking to kick on in my Liverpool career. I remember it saying ‘he likes Gegenpressing,’ and I was like ‘what’s Gegenpressing?’.
"You look at it and it was almost like a form of counter-pressing and running, and I thought: ‘Cor, that’s the type of football I like playing’.
"Having come from a Southampton team under Mauricio Pochettino kind of taught me how to work, how to run. Looking back now, it was no surprise that we connected almost immediately."
One of Lallana’s most famous moments in a Liverpool shirt came just a few months into Klopp’s reign. January 2016 saw the Reds beat Norwich City 5-4 in the Premier League, with Lallana scoring the winner with the final kick of the game.
Reflecting on that match, Lallana has admitted he was surprised by Klopp’s reaction to the goal. Lallana went on to say the passion that his former manager showed is a key reason behind the German’s success.
"I think already by that point I had a good connection with Jurgen, I’d been to see him a couple of times because I still felt like I wasn’t performing as well as I could’ve done,” said Lallana. “He kind of just told me to relax, goals will come, better performances will come.
“It was obviously a crazy game and the last kick of the game, and I remember just wheeling away and I actually couldn’t believe he was halfway on the pitch running towards us anyway. It’s an iconic moment I’ll look back at, I’m sure he will as well.
“Again, just building rapport, connection, emotional football, which is what he wants. He thrives off and wants his team to play with emotion. There’s no better way than setting the example as a manager which is what he did day in, day out.”
*Watch the first part of 'JURGEN' on Youtube here. Details on part two here.
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