Lallana claims Liverpool 'have turned into the Real Madrid of 2018'

Adam Lallana claims Liverpool have ‘a long list of Galacticos’ and have ‘turned into the Real Madrid of 2018’ – but also admits he ‘was like a rabbit in the headlights’ after replacing injured Mo Salah in final defeat four years ago

  • Adam Lallana has likened Liverpool to the Real Madrid team four years ago
  • He says Liverpool now have ‘world beaters’ across all positions on the pitch 
  • Lallana admitted he struggled to cope with Luka Modric in the 2018 final  
  • Follow Sportsmail’s build-up and live coverage of the Champions League final

Adam Lallana believes Liverpool have turned into ‘the Real Madrid of 2018’ as the former Reds midfielder admitted ‘he was like a rabbit in the headlights’ during the Champions League final meeting between the two sides four years ago. 

Jurgen Klopp’s side were defeated by the Spanish giants 3-1 on that occasion following a Gareth Bale brace and one from Karim Benzema.  

Lallana was brought on to replace Mohamed Salah, who suffered a shoulder injury in the first-half, and he has admitted he struggled to cope with Luka Modric in midfield. 

Adam Lallana has admitted he struggled to cope with Luka Modric in midfield four years ago

In his column in The Times, the 34-year-old wrote: ‘His (Salah) replacement came on and he was like a rabbit in the headlights. No rhythm. Out of form. He was running around, chasing shadows, unable to get close to Luka Modric. Out there but not really there at the same time.

‘That may sound like a particularly harsh appraisal, but I say it without fear of upsetting anyone. That player was me.

‘I had just returned from injury and had played only 16 minutes in the two months before that game. Liverpool did not have the strength in depth at the time.’

Lallana believes Liverpool are now a completely different team due to their strength in depth as he compared them to Real Madrid’s Champions League dominance during Zinedine Zidane’s first spell as manager.  

Lallana came on to replace Mohamed Salah, who suffered a shoulder injury in the first-half 

‘Now look at the squad. Jürgen Klopp referred to the “Ferraris sat in the garage” after he made nine changes for the recent win over Southampton. I was at St Mary’s that night working for BBC Radio 5 Live and it was such a brilliant description,’ Lallana added. 

‘This present Liverpool team is relentless. Whatever question you want to ask of them, they have an answer. They can bulldoze you, 4-0 or 5-0, they can win ugly. They are like a juggernaut.

‘In many respects they have turned into the Real Madrid of 2018. That team, coached by Zinedine Zidane, won their third successive Champions League trophy, their fourth in five seasons, and had galacticos in Cristiano Ronaldo, Modric and Toni Kroos.

Lallana says Liverpool are now a different team, comparing them to Real Madrid of 2018

‘Study Liverpool now and they have world-beaters everywhere. They have their own galacticos and there is no point in me naming one or two because it is a long list.’ 

Klopp’s side have had a season to remember, having won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, while losing out on Premier League glory to Manchester City by just a single point. 

Saturday’s meeting with Real Madrid will be Liverpool’s third Champions League final appearance in five years. 




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