Adam Lallana hits nail on the head with verdict on Liverpool player he 'loves'

The former Liverpool midfielder who on punditry duty when another of his former sides, Brighton, travelled to Anfield for Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round fixture

Adam Lallana praised Florian Wirtz's impact at Liverpool

Former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has praised Florian Wirtz’s recent upturn in form and believes the summer arrival is showing signs that he has adapted to the demands of the Premier League.

Wirtz, who failed to net in his first 22 Liverpool games, enjoyed a run of six goals in 10 appearances over December and January and is beginning to play an increasingly important role for the Reds. He was the best offensive player in the recent win at Sunderland, and despite failing to register a goal or assist, he earned comparisons with Zinedine Zidane from Steven Gerrard.

The German recently revealed he has added muscle to cope with the physical demands of the English top flight, and the former Bayer Leverkusen star is starting to justify the figure north of £100 million that Liverpool paid for his services last summer.

Speaking ahead of the Reds’ FA Cup win over Brighton & Hove Albion, Lallana praised not just Wirtz’s technical ability, but also his mentality.

“I love him. I think in the last few weeks he’s started to get the numbers people expect for the price tag he come to the football club with,” the ex-Southampton and Brighton man said on TNT Sports.

“I think even early on in his career the endeavour he was playing with, the willingness to step forward and to run and to press, it’s just a complete different physicality required in this league to Germany.

“I just think you’ve seen a little bit of adaptation, that’s all.”

Wirtz has improved over recent weeks

Meanwhile, this week Roy Keane likened Wirtz’s improvement to the diminutive Luka Modric, who struggled to immediately adapt following his move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, but went on to earn a transfer to Real Madrid.

“I still think it'll take him a full season to get up to speed,” opined the ex-Manchester United captain.

“I think next year... remember when Modric and all these boys took their time at Spurs to get used to the physicality, and he ended up playing in a two?

“I could not see how he [Modric] was going to become a top player.”

Wirtz has made 35 appearances for Liverpool this season and has provided six goals and eight assists.