A former Jurgen Klopp favourite at Liverpool left the club after being told he was no long needed
Fasika Zelealem Senior Sports Reporter
11:49, 14 Feb 2026
Adam Lallana spent six years at Anfield(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Adam Lallana previously revealed he was hurt by Jurgen Klopp telling him he was no longer wanted at Liverpool. The former red signed for the club in 2014 for a fee of £25million and spent six years at Anfield where he won a host of major honours, including the Premier League and Champions League.
His time in Merseyside came to an end in 2020 when his contract wasn’t renewed at the end of the club’s 2019/20 title-winning season. In his 178 appearances during his six years with Liverpool, Lallana scored 22 goals and 21 assists.
While Brendan Rodgers brought Lallana – who retired from football last summer – to Anfield from Southampton, he struck up a close relationship with Klopp upon the German’s appointment as boss in October 2015.
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The ex-England man was a regular start in the early days of Klopp’s reign but was slowly relegated to a squad player status due to injury and the sheer amount of talent that the club invested in.
Lallana made just 53 appearances across all competitions in his last three years at the club and scored one goal. As his future looked uncertain heading into his final year, he admitted he had an inkling he was set to leave the club.
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After a frank conversation with Klopp, Lallana said he felt rejected as he explained: “I went in and asked the question because I wanted to know what my future looked like. I had half an idea what the answer would be, but felt it would be better to know and to have a frank conversation.
“We had that much respect for each other. It is a weird feeling when you get told that you are kind of not wanted any more. There is an initial feeling of rejection and I think that’s normal in any walk of life.
Adam Lallana was a key player for Jurgen Klopp in his early years at Anfield (Image: 2019 Manchester United FC)
“But, after a couple of days, when I realised it was going to be my last season at Liverpool, I made sure that I treated every day, every training session, like it was my last and didn’t take anything for granted.
“I enjoyed the last six months as much as I did any year while I was at the club.” Less than two months after leaving Liverpool, he joined Brighton on a three-year deal and said his experience at the Seagulls was one he needed to have.
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“It was difficult to leave,” he said in 2020. But I wouldn’t say I’m missing it or homesick. Meeting new people and forming new relationships with team-mates is so refreshing and something I needed. It’s been absolutely fantastic.”
Lallana will likely be a keen observer of his two former clubs battling it out for a place in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday night. The Seagulls – who haven’t won in their last five games – travel to Anfield with the Reds coming off a much-needed confidence booster when beating Sunderland 1-0 earlier this week.
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