Lallana: I owe LFC medical team for Norwich winner
Adam Lallana revealed a debt of gratitude to the Liverpool medical department after he was given the green light to feature against Norwich City and duly grabbed the winner in a 5-4 thriller.
The midfielder had been a fitness doubt in the days leading up to the clash at Carrow Road following a muscle problem in the aftermath of the defeat by Manchester United last Sunday.
But Jürgen Klopp and his medical team took the decision to name Lallana on the bench and were rewarded when he had the decisive impact in the 95th minute of the Barclays Premier League contest.
Lallana told Liverpoolfc.com: “I had a bit of a knock after the United game. Not just credit to the manager, but credit to the medical team as well.
“They could easily have said to stay at Melwood and recover for Tuesday, especially with the amount of injuries we’ve got at the minute.
“So credit to the medical team for giving me the chance to come here and be involved. Sometimes in football the risks pay off; plenty don’t but plenty do. I think that risk possibly won us the game.”
It was a truly incredible match on Saturday afternoon – Liverpool led 1-0, trailed 3-1 and went back in front at 4-3 at various stages before Lallana’s strike secured the points.
The celebrations prompted by the ninth and final goal will live long in the memory for the Reds, and even left a delighted Klopp with a pair of broken glasses.
“It was a great feeling and I’m sure the celebrations summed it up,” said Lallana.
“My momentum just took me that way and the whole squad, everyone involved, was on the pitch somehow. I’ll take a booking for that one!
“I remember asking the ref how long was left and he said a minute. The next thing I knew, the whistle had gone and we had all three points. It was a great game to be involved in and one you won’t forget too quickly.”