5 Areas for Adam Lallana to Improve on with Liverpool Next Season

Adam Lallana's first season with Liverpool was a stop-start affair, riddled with injuries and struggles with consistency, and the 27-year-old will be looking to better his achievements in 2015/16.

But how can he refine his game in Merseyside red in the upcoming campaign?

Here are five areas for Lallana to improve on with Liverpool next season, rounding off with his all-important efforts in front of goal.

Fitness

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As mentioned, Lallana's 2014/15 season was hampered with regular injury issues, and this is a key area which he must strive to improve—if possible—this season.

The midfielder described his struggle to James Riach of the Guardian this month, saying: "Every time I felt I was picking up rhythm or Liverpool were picking up rhythm I got another knock and was out for two weeks or so."

In total, Lallana missed 13 Liverpool games directly through injury last season, with three different afflictions—his groin, his hamstring and his knee—suggesting it is his all-round fitness that could be an issue.

To continue this theory, worryingly, Lallana was subbed off in 15 of his 27 Premier League appearances in 2014/15, and subbed on four times. He completed the full 90 minutes just eight times, and averaged just 66 minutes on the field per game.

Is Lallana naturally unfit? It is a major worry for Liverpool supporters, and he must prove that he can be as close to a 90-minute, 38-game-a-season player this term.

Consistency

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Stemming from Lallana's words on struggling to maintain "rhythm" amid his injuries and fitness woes, the issue of consistency can be broached.

Lallana was extremely inconsistent throughout 2014/15—majestic one game, peripheral the next.

His chance-creation statistics in a seven-game run in the side from the beginning of December to New Year's Day is a perfect example of this: he created nine chances in total over this stretch, with five of these coming in one game—the 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal.

This, as Lallana attests, can be attributed to fitness and rhythm, but he must be more consistent overall in 2015/16.

Leadership

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With Steven Gerrard leaving Liverpool this summer, the Reds are currently without a captain, and sorely in need of a responsibility-gripping group of senior players—too many times it was left to Gerrard to drag the Reds through difficult games last season, and due to his waning ability, this wasn't always possible.

Brendan Rodgers believes Lallana can be one of these leaders next season, as he told Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo last month:

"

He’s fantastic in the changing room. He is responsible on the pitch, too. He has good leadership qualities.

That was one of the things I was surprised about when I heard but having worked with him I can see he is very conscientious and he is very strong willed.

[...]

He is a player that I can rely on.

"

As former Southampton captain, Lallana has previous experience in leading a side.

With Gerrard gone this season, he must step up and assume responsibility alongside the likes of Jordan Henderson, Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel, Lucas Leiva and Daniel Sturridge.

Creativity

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Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case told Steve Hunter of the club's official website on the £25 million signing of Lallana that he would be a player who would "enhance" Rodgers' side with his creativity:

"

Lallana has always been a gifted boy. When he came from Bournemouth, even then there was a buzz about him. You knew he was a good player. I thought he would have left Southampton years ago. He has been their best player for a long, long time.

He can play anywhere. Lallana is such a versatile player. Some of the skills he has on the ball, the way he receives it and controls it, are a real joy to watch.

His creativity is excellent.

"

So far, Liverpool haven't quite seen this creative excellence—as discussed in relation to his need to find consistency.

Last season, Lallana made three assists and averaged 1.7 key passes per 90 minutes in the league. The previous campaign, for Southampton, he made five assists and averaged 2.1 key passes per 90. Furthermore, his average number of passes per 90 dropped from 42.9 to 37.4. He drifted in and out of his role as the creative hub.

As Case suggests, he can be a creative force for Liverpool, and arguably even improve on his output from when playing in the focal role for Southampton—next season, this should be a target.

Goals

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As well as the creative aspect of his game, Lallana should be contributing more in terms of goals—although this is more of a general criticism of Rodgers' side in 2014/15 than the player as an individual.

Lallana scored five goals in the league last season, but for a player performing in an advanced midfield role, he should be reaching double figures. Twenty-seven-game, 10-goal Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nacer Chadli should be considered a contemporary.

Rodgers' entire squad must improve in front of goal this season, and Lallana can certainly help by improving his tally.

Statistics via Transfermarkt.co.uk, Squawka.com and WhoScored.com.

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