Jordan: Adam will be a big player for us
Jordan Henderson is convinced that Adam Lallana will be 'a big player' for Liverpool in 2014-15 after the vice-captain watched his teammate's first goal for the club from the closest of quarters on Saturday.
It was the No.14 who provided a slick one-two at the edge of West Bromwich Albion territory for Lallana to race towards goal and calmly break the deadlock at Anfield with a sweeping, left-footed finish into the opposite corner.
Henderson himself went on to make the most telling contribution of the afternoon, crashing home a low drive at the Kop end on the hour mark that proved the winner, following Saido Berahino's leveller for the visitors from the penalty spot.
But as he politely conducted the post-match media demands expected of any player who settles a contest in the Barclays Premier League, the performance of Lallana was equally at the forefront of the midfielder's thinking.
"Adam has been brilliant for a number of weeks now," said Henderson. "He is getting his fitness back from that long injury spell he had out. He will be a big player for us this season so hopefully he will keep doing that.
"He gets us on the front foot well. You can fizz it into him and he will always take his touch forward, gets in behind their midfield and drives us on, which is very important."
On the opening goal in particular, Lallana's maiden strike since arriving from Southampton in the summer, Henderson added: "He is looking sharp.
"Adam did well with a bit of skill coming inside, I just showed myself for the bounce pass and it was a great finish. I thought he was brilliant all day."