Adam Lallana can’t seem to catch a break at Anfield.
Lallana, 26, suffered a thigh injury during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City on New Year’s Day, according to the BBC, the Guardian and the Liverpool Echo. Lallana limped off the field early in the second half, and scans have confirmed Liverpool’s fears. Lallana will miss a month of action as he attempts to recover from the third injury of his Anfield career.
The injury bug bit Lallana at a bad time, as he was beginning to produce the types of displays that justify his £25 million ($38 million) transfer fee. Lallana had been thriving recently in Liverpool’s new system, which pushed him into a higher, more central position than he played in the early part of the season. Lallana scored three goals and assisted two more in Liverpool’s last seven games, and many hoped his form would carry into 2015.
Lallana now will miss Monday’s FA Cup third round game against Wimbledon, both Capital One Cup (Football League cup) semifinal games against Chelsea and Premier League games against Sunderland, Aston Villa and West Ham.
Injuries have hampered Lallana’s progress at Liverpool. Lallana, a highly touted summer signing from Southampton, suffered a knee injury early in preseason training, which sidelined him for the first month of the 2014-15 season. Lallana slowly worked his way into Liverpool’s lineup in September and October, but he broke his ribs in November and sat out much of the month.
Lallana was one of Liverpool’s best players in December. Reds everywhere are hoping he can pick up where he left off when he returns in February.
Thumbnail photo by Twitter/@premierleague